Trump and Putin Begin High-Stakes Alaska Summit

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin opened a historic summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday. The talks at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson are aimed at ending the war in Ukraine and reshaping U.S.–Russia relations.

Laura Ingraham, vacationing in Alaska, also weighed in. “We’re fishing for peace here today, and if anyone can get the job done it’s Donald Trump with the great help of his team Steve Witkoff and everyone else making the diplomatic push for peace,” she said. She added that the outcome of the summit will be unpacked in the days ahead.

Expanded Talks, Higher Stakes

The summit began with a formal handshake before leaders moved to negotiations. What was planned as a private one-on-one quickly expanded. Trump was joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Putin brought along Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The broader format underscored the scale of issues on the table.

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Trump warned that if Putin rejects serious peace terms, the U.S. will respond with “very severe” consequences. He also cast himself as the only leader capable of brokering an agreement.

Putin entered determined to protect Russia’s gains while seeking relief from international isolation. Reporters pressed him about civilian casualties. The Russian president appeared tense, deflecting questions in a rare show of discomfort. Trump, in contrast, presented the talks as a chance to stop the bloodshed and stabilize global order.

Trump Warns Putin: Strike a Ukraine Deal or Face 100% Tariffs in 50 Days

Ukraine was left out of the meeting. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the format, saying his country should not be sidelined. Kyiv has demanded that any peace deal preserve its sovereignty. Trump’s team has suggested U.S. and European security guarantees as an alternative to NATO membership.

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The outcome of the Alaska summit is still unclear. For Trump, it is a chance to show strength on the world stage and shape his legacy as a peacemaker. For Putin, it may be the last opportunity to negotiate before harsher consequences arrive. The world now waits to see if Anchorage becomes the place where peace takes root, or another missed chance in a long and brutal war.