President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin left the world guessing on Friday after a historic summit that yielded no particulars about what was mentioned, what was agreed to and what remaining sticking factors stay to ending the warfare with Ukraine.
The 2 leaders holed up behind closed doorways for round three hours at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. What they talked about, nonetheless, stays largely a thriller as the 2 leaders, standing side-by-side at a joint information convention, revealed little or no of what “progress” they mentioned was made. They took no questions from the press.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the summit.
No deal on ceasefire however ‘progress’ made
Trump on the press convention would solely tease the truth that the 2 leaders had a “productive meeting” and mentioned they agreed on some issues, however not others – with out providing any particulars of what was mentioned.
“I believe we had a very productive meeting. There were many, many points that we agreed on. Most of them, I would say a couple of big ones that we haven’t quite gotten there, but we’ve made some headway. So there’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump mentioned, including that he could be calling European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following the summit.
“It’s ultimately up to them,” Trump mentioned.
Putin, for his half, harassed that his nation must eradicate what he referred to as the “primary roots” of the battle, with out elaborating on what these have been. He acknowledged that some “agreement” was made but additionally didn’t provide any particulars.
“I would like to hope that the agreement that we’ve reached together will help us bring closer that goal and will pave the path towards peace in Ukraine,” Putin mentioned. “We expect that Kyiv and European capitals will perceive that constructively, and that they won’t throw a wrench in the works. They will not make any attempts to use some backroom dealings to conduct provocations to torpedo the nascent progress.”
There was no point out of a number of high-stakes elements on the desk, together with the U.S. staving off any additional sanctions on Russia, a nuclear arms deal and safety ensures to Ukraine as a part of a peace settlement.
Trump had additionally teased the notion of getting a second assembly that included Zelensky if the Alaska summit proved profitable. To date, no additional plans to fulfill have been revealed by any chief.
Trump offers Putin red-carpet therapy
Trump rolled out the crimson carpet — actually — for Putin’s arrival within the U.S.
Air Power One arrived on the base first, with Putin’s presidential airplane arriving a couple of half hour later. Each leaders emerged on the similar time, strolling down a crimson carpet and greeting one another warmly.
Trump applauded whereas the Russian president walked to fulfill him, shaking fingers and giving pleasant arm faucets whereas the 2 exchanged pleasantries earlier than posing for images. Putin later mentioned on the press convention that he greeted Trump by saying “good afternoon, dear neighbor.”
In a outstanding transfer, Putin stepped into Trump’s armored presidential limousine, referred to as the beast, and rode with Trump to the location of the summit on the base. Putin was seen laughing with Trump within the again seat because the motorcade drove away from the tarmac.
The rapport between the 2 as they greeted each other stood in stark distinction to the typically harsh phrases Trump has had for his Russian counterpart as he struggles to succeed in a ceasefire deal to finish the warfare with Ukraine.
The assembly gave Putin an equal enjoying subject with Trump.
Putin later spoke first at his joint look with Trump, giving him the chance to set the tone and ship a prolonged speech about Russian historical past and the significance of sustaining relations with the USA.
A lot stays a thriller
Regardless of the discuss of progress on either side, neither Trump nor Putin provided any indication of how Russia and Ukraine had moved nearer to a peace deal.
And the press convention ended earlier than reporters may attempt to fill within the blanks: Will Trump transfer forward with sanctions to stress Putin? Are there any plans for a second assembly involving Zelensky, as Trump had hoped for? Did they focus on territorial concessions or different contours of a peace deal?
Maria Popova, an affiliate professor of political science at McGill College, mentioned the anomaly left two prospects.
“The first one is Trump actually realizes that this is a no-go, that there’s no progress,” through which case he could return to the drafting board with Zelensky and European leaders.
The extra pessimistic risk for Ukraine is that Trump tries to drive Zelensky to just accept no matter phrases Putin outlined.
“And when Zelensky and Europe don’t want to take the deal, he will blame them for obstructing peace, and he’ll get angry, and he’ll say that Zelensky is irrational and about to lose his country.”
Talking with Fox Information host Sean Hannity after the summit, Trump recommended Zelensky would wish to make concessions to finalize a deal.
“I mean, a lot of points were agreed on, but there’s not that much as, one or two pretty significant items, but I think they can be reached,” he mentioned. “Now it’s really up to President Zelensky to get it done. And I would also say the European nations, they have to get involved a little bit, but it’s up to President Zelensky.”
Fastidiously choreographed round ‘peace’
Friday’s assembly was fastidiously choreographed to bolster Trump’s picture as a peacemaker. Each the backdrop of the assembly and the press convention have been emblazoned with the phrases “Pursuing Peace.”
The White Home this week touted Nobel Peace Prize endorsements from varied world leaders, together with the heads of state from Israel, Cambodia, Pakistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan — all of whom have been concerned in conflicts that Trump helped finish.
Nevertheless, Trump has been unable to halt the warfare in Ukraine or two of the world’s different main wars: Israel’s warfare with Hamas in Gaza, the place mass hunger is taking maintain, or the brutal civil warfare in Sudan.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday mentioned she’d nominate Trump for the Nobel Prize if he managed to dealer peace in Ukraine with out giving Russia Ukrainian territory.
Trump insisted the assembly went effectively regardless of having nothing to indicate for it.
Kristina Hook, an assistant professor of battle administration at Kennesaw State College, mentioned Trump’s method to Putin doesn’t seem like working.
“Trump’s talk of ‘progress’ seems aimed at generating momentum, but the fundamental obstacle remains: Putin refuses to recognize Ukraine’s sovereignty or its people’s democratic right to choose their future. Until that changes, diplomacy is largely theater,” she mentioned.
“Until the U.S. exerts real leverage to push Putin off his maximalist aims and toward respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Russia will choose to grind the war on.”
Trump to name Zelensky, world leaders
Trump mentioned he deliberate to name Zelensky and NATO allies following the assembly, including that he additionally anticipated to talk once more to Putin quickly.
Robert Murrett, deputy director of Syracuse College’s Institute for Safety Coverage and Legislation, mentioned he was “very encouraged” by Trump’s dedication to maintain allies within the loop. And he mentioned the result wouldn’t come as a shock in Europe.
“They had no anticipation for a dramatic step forward, a cease fire, any kind of thing, you know, halfway to a peace agreement,” he mentioned. “I think this is kind of the outcome that most of them expected.”
There was no quick response from Zelensky or European leaders on Friday evening following the summit.
Trump and Putin briefly mentioned the placement of their subsequent assembly on the finish of their joint press convention.
“Next time in Moscow,” Putin mentioned in English, chuckling.
“Oh, that’s an interesting one,” Trump mentioned. “I’ll get a little heat on that one, but I, uh, I could see it possibly happening.”
Brett Samuels contributed from Anchorage, Alaska
