Trump-Putin summit ends without Ukraine breakthrough
The much-anticipated summit between former US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday concluded without a ceasefire deal for Ukraine. While the leaders highlighted areas of agreement and appeared cordial, no concrete resolution emerged.
Trump described the talks as “extremely productive” but provided no details, noting, “We’re not there yet, but we’ve made progress. There’s no deal until there’s a deal.” Putin also spoke generally about cooperation, expressing hope that the discussions “will… pave the way for peace in Ukraine.”
During the summit, Putin complimented Trump, claiming the Ukraine war would not have occurred had Trump been president instead of Joe Biden. Trump reiterated his stance that Russian interference in the 2016 US election was a “hoax.”
Trump said he would now consult Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO leaders on next steps. Putin warned Ukraine and European nations against actions that could undermine “emerging progress.”
The summit, their first in-person meeting since 2019, included a highly orchestrated arrival with a B-2 stealth bomber flyover and Trump personally escorting Putin into the US presidential limousine.
Despite Russia’s recent territorial gains, Ukraine announced it had recaptured several villages. Zelensky, excluded from the talks, reaffirmed that the war’s resolution lies with Russia.
NBC
