The globally watched "putin-trump summit": Longest Meeting But Still No Breakthrough

Lead-in: Trump said, "No deal is no deal." Putin hinted at reaching a "secret agreement" and invited Trump to meet next time in Moscow, to which Trump responded with a smile.

The globally watched Alaska "Putin-Biden Summit" has concluded. This was the longest face-to-face meeting between the two leaders to date, but it was still shorter than expected, lasting about 2.5 hours before the two appeared in front of the media.

Despite the unprecedented duration of the talks, neither side has explicitly disclosed the details of the discussions or areas of consensus, which undoubtedly heightens the concerns of European countries and Kyiv, fearing the possibility of an agreement that bypasses their opinions.

Trump: Agreement to End Conflict Not Yet Finalized

Trump stated,The meeting with Putin was "extremely productive."However, it is emphasized thatAn agreement to end the conflict has not yet been finalized.He also revealed that he will further communicate with NATO allies and Ukrainian President Zelensky.

"No agreement means there is no agreement yet."Trump said this on Friday while attending a joint event with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska.

Trump said, "We had a very productive meeting and reached agreement on many topics, with consensus on most issues."Several major issues remain unresolved, but some progress has been made.He added that he would inform Zelensky and NATO allies about the results of the summit.

"I will make a few phone calls to explain the situation to them. Overall, it was an extremely productive meeting, and we reached an agreement on many issues," he said.

However, Trump did not reveal which issues have differences or which problems could become obstacles difficult for Kyiv and its allies to accept.

"Only a few issues remain, some of which are not important; one might be the most crucial." he stated."Although not yet resolved, it is very likely to reach an agreement."

Putin: Reached an undisclosed agreement, see you next time in Moscow.

In his speech, Putin emphasized that the talks were conducted in a "constructive atmosphere" and stated that some undisclosed agreements had been reached between the two parties. He urged "the Kyiv and European governments" to view this agreement with a "constructive attitude" rather than "undermining the progress that has just begun."

He also pointed out that Ukraine was only part of the discussion, and the two sides also talked about expanding trade, strengthening business cooperation, and collaboration in Arctic and space exploration.

Putin stated that all countries "should turn this page."He even hinted in English that the next meeting would take place in Moscow, and Trump did not immediately deny it.

Trump responded with a laugh, "Oh, that's an interesting proposal. I might get some criticism for it, but it's definitely a possibility."

Putin also said that in recent years, U.S.-Russia relations have fallen to "the lowest point since the Cold War," and it is time for the two countries to move "from confrontation to dialogue."

However, he did not signal any softening of his stance on Ukraine. Putin insisted that the "roots" of the conflict must be "eliminated," a phrasing he has previously used to advocate for the demilitarization of Ukraine.

The event, originally referred to as a joint press conference, ended directly after Trump and Putin delivered their speeches, with neither taking questions from the media.

Think tank: Positive atmosphere, but no substantive content.

The meeting was quite dramatic, with Trump standing side by side with the leader who has been isolated by Western countries since launching a full-scale conflict against Ukraine in 2022.

Despite Trump repeatedly lowering expectations before the summit, and even emphasizing on his way to the venue that he would "turn around and leave" if talks didn't go well,His final conversation with Putin lasted more than two and a half hours, far exceeding the meeting time of the 2018 Helsinki Summit.

The opening of the summit was also meticulously arranged.This is Putin's first visit to the United States in nearly ten years, and Trump personally welcomed him on home soil.They met on the airport runway, with Trump applauding to welcome Putin as he approached, shaking his hand warmly and patting his arm.

The United States sent a flight formation, including B-2 bombers, for a "show of force." However, people also saw Trump placing his hand on Putin's back, as the two conversed casually and then rode together in the presidential car to the venue.

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Whitkov accompanied Trump to the meeting, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov accompanied Putin to the meeting.

This "three-on-three" meeting format was changed at the last moment; Trump and Putin were initially expected to meet only with their translators. Senior officials from both sides had originally planned to hold a larger meeting during lunch, but it seems that meeting has been canceled.

Before the talks, European allies were generally concerned that Trump might make excessive concessions to Putin, potentially reaching a wide-ranging agreement involving territorial exchanges. Although the two leaders did not announce any specific outcomes to confirm these concerns, doubts from the outside world continue to deepen.

Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at the global think tank RAND Corporation, described in an interview.The event had a "positive atmosphere, but almost no substantive content."

"From Trump's remarks, it seems that the two sides did discuss some specific issues," Sharap added, "but neither of them disclosed any substantive information. This press conference was quite restrained for Trump."He strictly adhered to the established line, and it was clear that both parties had agreed in advance not to disclose the details.。”