Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump concluded their summit on Friday with a hazy promise of progress and cordial personal interactions, but no ceasefire agreement for Ukraine.
Both leaders hailed the three-hour meeting with aides as “productive,” but no specific agreements were made.
Only “a few” issues, according to Trump, are left, “Some are not that significant, one is probably the most significant. “We’re not there yet, but we’ve made progress. There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump declared.
In a rare move, neither leader took questions from reporters. Instead, Trump described the summit as “extremely productive” and hinted at a second meeting, while Putin smiled and suggested, “Next time in Moscow.”
In an attempt to flatter Trump, the Russian leader claimed that if he had been elected president rather than Joe Biden, the war would not have occurred.
In response, Trump reiterated his denial of Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Prior to the negotiations, Trump threatened Moscow with “severe consequences,” but he later told Fox News that he no longer felt the need to follow through on that threat. He went on to say that it was now “up to President Zelensky” to end the conflict, vowing to confer with the Ukrainian leader and NATO allies.
Putin warned Europe and Ukraine not to impede “emerging progress.” Although Ukraine reported retaking several villages, the summit took place amid recent Russian battlefield gains.
Their first meeting since 2019 was full of symbolism, including a joint arrival at a military airbase while a US stealth bomber flew overhead. Putin seemed unfazed as he rode in Trump’s limousine prior to private discussions, despite being under arrest by the International Criminal Court.
Excluded from the summit, Zelensky maintained that Ukraine would not give up any land.
“It is time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America,” he declared.
