Trump, Putin hint at Moscow meeting after Alaska talks but keep Ukraine details under wraps

Despite the praise, Putin offered no sign he was ready to move away from his maximalist demands in Ukraine. (Image credit: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended their Alaska summit on Friday with upbeat words but few specifics, leaving key questions about Ukraine’s future unanswered.

Trump told reporters he would speak soon with NATO leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to update them on his conversation with Putin, calling the discussions “great progress” with “many points agreed to” and only “very few” still unresolved. But he offered no concrete details on what was achieved, and Zelensky was not invited to the talks.

The joint press conference,  their first since 2018, ended without either leader taking questions from reporters.

Putin backs Trump’s claim on Ukraine war

Putin gave Trump a political boost, publicly confirming the US leader’s long-standing claim that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if Trump had been in the White House in 2022.

“I can confirm that,” Putin said through a translator, in remarks widely seen as a swipe at former President Joe Biden, whom he criticised without naming.

Despite the praise, Putin offered no sign he was ready to move away from his maximalist demands in Ukraine — including conditions Kyiv and its European allies have repeatedly rejected.

Trump revives “Russia hoax” narrative

At one point, Trump shifted to domestic politics, dismissing the US intelligence community’s finding that Russia meddled in the 2016 election as a “hoax” that had been painful for both him and Putin. The Russian leader stood by as Trump repeated the claim.

Hinting at another meeting in Moscow

As the two leaders wrapped up their statements, Putin extended an invitation for Trump to visit Moscow. Speaking in English, he said, “Next time in Moscow.”

Trump replied, “I could see it possibly happening,” though he acknowledged he would “get a little heat on that one.” He has already spoken in recent days about wanting a follow-up meeting after the Alaska summit.

Before departing, Trump was set to sit down for an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.

NATO and Europe left waiting

Trump promised to call European and NATO leaders soon to brief them on the meeting. For now, they, along with Ukraine, remain in the dark about the actual contents of the talks.

Putin, meanwhile, warned Europe not to “torpedo” what he called nascent progress, though neither he nor Trump defined what that progress entailed.