On August 15th, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke for nearly three hours at Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. This event marks Putin’s first visit to U.S. soil since 2012 and their first face-to-face meeting since Trump’s 2024 reelection. The meeting focused on negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, but it ended without any formal or final agreement. During Trump’s previous term, Putin met with him six times.  Since then, they’ve spoken several times over the phone to discuss the end of the war.

This meeting began with traditional acts, including a red-carpet, military plane flyovers featuring B-2 bombers and F-35 jets, and symbolic acts that showed the cordial relationship between the leaders.

So far, Russia has lost nearly one million soldiers and civilians alone, averaging as many as 1,000 deaths per day, all while gaining only 20% of Ukraine’s territory overall. Ukraine casualties remain at a steady incline, reaching 400,000. 

Putin refused many of Trump’s ideas and deals, but also stated, “many points were agreed to”. One of these included a plan for Ukraine to receive a security plan similar to NATOs.

In conclusion, the Alaska meeting of August 15, 2025, proved to be an ambitious attempt by Trump to end the Ukraine conflict directly. Despite the meeting, the core issue remained: no agreement on a ceasefire or peace deals for Ukraine. Trump showed great interest in a peace deal, but the end of the conflict depends solely on President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky.