Without a Ukraine ceasefire deal, Trump says ‘Up to Zelensky Now’ as Trump-Putin Summit Yields No Breakthrough. The highly anticipated Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded on Friday without a concrete ceasefire agreement for Ukraine. While both leaders described the talks as “productive,” they offered no specific breakthroughs. Instead, Trump shifted responsibility onto Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, declaring it was now “up to him” to secure a peace deal.
“Up to Zelensky Now”: Trump, Putin Summit Yields No Breakthrough on Ukraine
Trump and Putin Meet Amid Global Spotlight
The three-hour meeting at Elmendorf Air Base in Alaska marked the first in-person encounter between Putin and a U.S. president since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The summit had been billed as a potential turning point in efforts to end Europe’s deadliest conflict in 80 years.
Upon Putin’s arrival, the atmosphere combined diplomacy with military symbolism. Videos circulated on social media showed a U.S. B-2 stealth bomber and F-22 Raptors soaring above as Trump greeted Putin on a red carpet.
The scene reflected both a message of American military might and the hope of new diplomatic openings.
Trump was joined at the summit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Putin’s delegation included Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov.
Trump Calls Talks “Extremely Productive,” But No Ceasefire Deal
Speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity after the talks, Trump rated the meeting “10 out of 10,” calling it “extremely productive.”
He noted that many points of discussion had been agreed upon, though he refrained from offering details.
“There are just a very few that are left, some are not that significant, one is probably the most significant,” Trump said, without elaborating.
He emphasized that while progress had been made, “there’s no deal until there’s a deal,” signaling that a ceasefire or peace agreement remained elusive.
“Up to Zelensky Now” – Trump Shifts Responsibility
In his interview, Trump placed the next step squarely on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying:
“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.”
Trump suggested a potential meeting between Putin and Zelensky, possibly with him also in attendance, but did not provide specifics on timing or logistics.
The remark reflects Trump’s longstanding approach of presenting himself as a facilitator rather than a direct negotiator for Ukraine. “I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine. I’m here to get them to the table,” he told reporters earlier.
Putin: “Don’t Disrupt Emerging Progress”
Putin, meanwhile, offered few details in a 12-minute press appearance. He warned Ukraine and its European allies not to “create obstacles” or “make attempts to disrupt this emerging progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes intrigues.”
The Russian president expressed hope that “the understanding we have reached will pave the way for peace in Ukraine.”
However, he reiterated Moscow’s stance that the so-called “root causes” of the war must be resolved for long-term peace language seen by Kyiv and its allies as justification for maintaining Russian territorial control.
Putin also flattered Trump, saying he agreed with the U.S. president that the Ukraine war “would not have happened if Trump were president instead of Joe Biden.”
Tariffs, Sanctions, and China’s Role
Beyond Ukraine, Trump revealed he would delay imposing tariffs on China for purchasing Russian oil, citing progress made with Putin. “Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now,” he told Hannity, leaving the door open for future action within “two or three weeks.”
India, another major buyer of Russian crude, remains subject to a 50% tariff on U.S. imports, including a 25% penalty tied to Russian oil.
Trump has previously threatened sanctions on Moscow but has not followed through, even after Putin ignored a Trump-imposed ceasefire deadline earlier this month.
His softer approach contrasts with Biden-era policies that focused on isolating Russia economically.
Land Swaps and Security Guarantees on the Table
Trump hinted that discussions included controversial proposals such as land swaps and security guarantees for Ukraine.
He suggested that both sides were “pretty close to a deal,” though he admitted that Ukraine could reject the terms.
“Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they’ll say no,” Trump said. When asked what advice he would give Zelensky, Trump replied bluntly: “Gotta make a deal.”
His statement echoed his campaign promise to end the Ukraine war within 24 hoursa goal that now appears more complex than he initially imagined.
Zelensky Responds Cautiously
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not invited to Alaska, has consistently ruled out territorial concessions to Russia.
Ahead of the summit, he stressed the need for a “just peace” and three-way talks that included Kyiv.
“It’s time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
Kyiv has yet to formally respond to Trump’s remarks shifting responsibility to Ukraine. NATO leaders, too, remain wary of Trump’s outreach to Putin, fearing it could undermine Western unity against Russian aggression.
War Rages On During Talks
Even as Trump and Putin spoke of progress, the war showed no signs of slowing.
Ukrainian officials reported widespread Russian drone attacks across the Sumy, Donetsk, Chernihiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Ukraine’s Air Force claimed to have intercepted 61 of 85 drones launched overnight, while Russia reported destroying 29 Ukrainian drones targeting its Rostov and Bryansk regions.
The ongoing violence underscored the gap between summit diplomacy and battlefield realities.
ICC Warrant and Putin’s Global Standing
Putin’s presence in Alaska was itself a diplomatic victory. Since 2022, Western leaders have largely shunned him over the invasion of Ukraine and the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant accusing him of war crimes related to the deportation of Ukrainian children.
Russia has dismissed the ICC warrant as invalid, and neither Russia nor the United States is a party to the court. Nonetheless, the image of Putin walking a red carpet on U.S. soil represented a symbolic breakthrough for the Kremlin.
“Next Time in Moscow” – Summit Ends on Ambiguous Note
As the summit concluded, Trump floated the idea of a second meeting. Putin, smiling, replied in English: “Next time in Moscow.”
Trump joked that he might “get a little heat on that one,” but did not rule out the possibility.
The exchange captured the dual nature of the Alaska talks cordial personal rapport between Trump and Putin, yet no concrete progress toward ending the war.
Analysis: What Comes Next?
The Alaska summit highlighted Trump’s diplomatic style: personal engagement with world leaders, bold declarations of progress, and a preference for deal-making over rigid strategy. Yet without Zelensky’s participation, the talks were destined to remain incomplete.
For Putin, the meeting was a chance to project legitimacy and demonstrate that Russia remains central to global diplomacy despite its pariah status in Europe. For Trump, it was an opportunity to show his supporters that he is actively working to end the war he has long promised to resolve.
The true test lies ahead: whether Trump can bring Zelensky and Putin to the same table and whether either side is willing to compromise on territory, security guarantees, or the long-term status of Ukraine. Until then, as Trump himself put it, “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.”
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