After nearly three hours of closed-door talks at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded their high-stakes summit in Alaska without reaching a ceasefire agreement on the war in Ukraine.

Both leaders described the meeting as “extremely productive,” but acknowledged that key issues remain unresolved. “We haven’t quite got there, but we’ve got some headway,” Trump said during a brief joint press conference. “There’s no deal until there’s a deal”.

Putin, who spoke longer than Trump, offered a historical reflection on Russian-American ties and hinted at a possible follow-up meeting in Moscow—a suggestion that appeared to catch Trump off guard.

Notably absent from the summit was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, prompting criticism from Kyiv and European leaders who insist Ukraine must be included in any peace negotiations. 

Trump said he plans to call Zelenskyy to discuss the summit’s outcome and reiterated his desire for a rapid ceasefire, though he admitted disappointment that no agreement was reached.

Meanwhile, fresh Russian drone strikes overnight killed seven civilians in Ukraine, underscoring the urgency of the talks.

Despite the lack of a formal deal, both sides signaled openness to continued dialogue. “We didn’t get there,” Trump concluded, “but we have a very good chance of getting there”.