| 2025 Russia–United States Summit | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Vladimir Putin andDonald Trump during the summit | |
| Host country |  United States |
| Date | August 15, 2025 |
| Cities | Anchorage,Alaska |
| Venues | Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson |
| Participants | |
| Follows | 2021 Russia–United States summit (2025 Saudi Arabia meeting) |
| Precedes | 2025 Budapest summit (cancelled) |
| Key points | |
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The2025 Russia–United States Summit (also known as theAlaska 2025 or theTrump–Putin Summit in Alaska) was asummit meeting between United States presidentDonald Trump and Russian presidentVladimir Putin. It was held on August 15, 2025, atJoint Base Elmendorf–Richardson inAnchorage, Alaska.[1] The main topic of discussion was the ongoingRusso-Ukrainian war.[2][3] The summit ended without an agreement being announced, although Trump later intimated that in his view the onus was now on Ukraine to cede territory in order to end the war.[4]
It was the first time Putin was invited to aWestern country since he ordered thefull-scaleRussian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Putin facesan arrest warrant issued by theInternational Criminal Court (of which the U.S. is no longer an active member)[5] for alleged[6]war crimes. It was also the first time that a Russian presidential visit to the United States has been held on aU.S. military property.[7] It was the first meeting between Trump and Putin since Trump wasreelected in 2024, the first between them as sitting presidents since theirlast meeting in 2019 inOsaka, their first summit since the2018 Helsinki Summit, and the first meeting between presidents of both countries since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which occurred eight months after the2021 Geneva Summit betweenJoe Biden and Putin.[8] It was Putin's first visit to the United States since 2015 when he attended the70th session of theUnited Nations General Assembly inNew York City.[7] It was also the first US-hosted meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States since 2007, when Putin met withGeorge W. Bush inMaine.[9][10][11]
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In February 2022, Putin ordered the full-scaleRussian invasion of Ukraine, starting the deadliest war in Europe sinceWorld War II. During the2024 presidential election, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump campaigned with a promise to end the war on his first day in office.[12] Trump became president in January 2025.[13] On February 12, 2025, he held a surprisephone call with Putin which led to negotiations between Russia and the U.S. for the first time since the invasion.[14]
Later that month, U.S. Secretary of StateMarco Rubio met with Russian Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov inSaudi Arabia to discuss improvingRussia–United States relations andplans to end the war in Ukraine.[15] The meeting laid the groundwork for a future meeting between Putin and Trump, with Kremlin spokespersonDmitry Peskov saying the meeting could take place before the end of February, though this did not end up happening.[16][17] Over the following months, Trump continued to communicate with Putin through phone calls andTruth Social posts.[18][19]
Trump repeatedly threatened to impose further sanctions on Russia if it did not stop attacking Ukraine. Putin repeatedly ignored the warnings, and Trump did not follow through on them.[20][21]
On May 8, Trump warned that the U.S. would impose further sanctions on Russia if it did not agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.[22] Russia rejected the ceasefire and continued to attack Ukraine.[23]
Presidents Putin of Russia andVolodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine were due to hold direct negotiations inIstanbul on May 15, and Trump suggested he would also be there. However, Putin did not attend. Trump excused Putin's absence, saying he believes the only reason Putin did not attend was becausehe was not there, and said peace talks are only possible if he and Putin meet.[21]
On May 28, Trump said he would know within two weeks whether Putin was serious about ending the war or was just "tapping us along".[24][2] In May, June and July, Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine increased dramatically.[25] Trump told reporters on July 23: "I go home, I tellthe first lady: 'You know, I spoke to Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation.' And she said: 'Oh really? Another [Ukrainian] city was just hit.'"[26] After Trump warned of sanctions and criticized Putin on Truth Social, the Kremlin described his posts as "emotional".[27]
On July 14, Trump announced that the U.S. would impose more sanctions on Russia and 100% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil if Putin did not agree to end the war within 50 days.[28] On July 28, Trump announced that the deadline would be shortened to 10 or 12 days, citing a lack of progress.[29] U.S. special envoySteve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow on August 6, two days before the deadline.[30] Following the meeting, Trump said there was a "good chance" that a meeting with Putin would take place "very soon."[31] When Trump's deadline arrived on August 8, instead of imposing sanctions, Trump announced that he would host Putin in Alaska on August 15.[32]
Shortly before the Alaska meeting, Trump warned that there would be "severe consequences" for Russia if Putin did not agree to a ceasefire.[33]
Since September 2022, Russia hasclaimed four oblasts of Ukraine, as well asCrimea since 2014. Prior to the summit, it controlled 88% of the Donbas region (75% ofDonetsk and 100% ofLuhansk), and 74% of the region comprising theZaporizhzhia andKherson Oblasts, as well as small pockets of other regions.[34] Prior to the summit, Russia made small gains in itsPokrovsk offensive in theDonbas region.[35]
On July 31, 2025, former Russian President and Deputy Chairman of theSecurity Council of RussiaDmitry Medvedev made aTelegram post warning President Trump of a "Dead Hand" threat, referencing the Soviet automatic nuclear launch mechanism. On August 1, President Trump announced the movement of two "Nuclear Submarines" toward Russia in response to the threat.[36]
On August 4, 2025, Russia announced it "no longer considers itself bound" by the 1987Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which the US withdrew from in 2019.[37] The following day, aBoeing WC-135R Constant Phoenix "nuke sniffer" aircraft flew near theKola Peninsula. Analysts said the flight could indicate an upcoming test of the9M730 Burevestnik nuclear-powered nuclear-capablecruise missile,previously tested inArkhangelsk Oblast.[38]
President Trump had said on August 7, 2025, that it was not necessary for Putin to meet withVolodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine.[39] He also said that both sides would have to make concessions. A Kremlin source stated that Russia could halt the war if they received eastern Ukraine.[40]
On August 8, President Trump announced onTruth Social that he was planning to meet with Putin in Alaska.[2] Kremlin aideYuri Ushakov later confirmed the talks, musing that Alaska was "quite logical" for a venue.[41] Alaska may have been chosen for its location between both capitals, lack of US participation in theRome Statute to carry out theInternational Criminal Court arrest warrant for Putin, as well as for its historical significance, includingformer Russian colonization, modernRussian Orthodox communities, andCold War military usage.[42]
On August 14, Ushakov announced that on the Russian side, the delegation will include himself, Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov, Defence MinisterAndrey Belousov, Finance MinisterAnton Siluanov, and Special Presidential Envoy on Foreign Investment and Economic CooperationKirill Dmitriev.[43]
Ahead of the summit Putin suggested negotiations could cover nuclear weapons treaties, such as the renewal ofNew START which expires in February 2026.[44][45]
Several hundred people held a pro-Ukraine rally.[46][47] Russian Foreign MinisterLavrov notably arrived at his hotel wearing a whiteСССР (USSR) sweatshirt underneath his cold weather vest; the move was described byThe Guardian as a "not-so-subtle act oftrolling".[48][49]
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Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson inAnchorage, Alaska, was the location of the summit that was held on August 15, 2025.[1] An L-shapedred carpet was laid out for the leaders to walk down to a platform that was labeled "ALASKA 2025" with fourF-22 Raptor fighter jets lined up alongside it.[50] President Trump touched down at Joint Base Elmendorf at 10:22 a.m.AKDT (UTC−08:00)[51]Press SecretaryKaroline Leavitt announced upon landing that the meeting would no longer be one-on-one between Trump-Putin but that it would be three-on-three withSecretary of StateMarco Rubio andSpecial EnvoySteve Witkoff joining President Trump and Foreign Policy AideYury Ushakov and Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov joining President Putin.[50]
President Putin landed at the Air Base at 10:55 a.m. local time. Both men exited their planes at approximately 11:08 a.m., shook hands on the red carpet and posed on the ALASKA 2025 platform for a picture before shaking hands again and entering thepresidential state car for transport to the meeting location. As the two stood on the platform,United States Air ForceF-22 fighters orF-35 fighters and aB-2 bombers flew overhead.Russia 24 reported that President Trump invited Putin to join him in the car, with Putin eschewing his plannedAurus limo.[50]
The meeting began at approximately 11:32 a.m. and concluded at approximately 2:18 p.m. A press briefing by the two leaders began at approximately 2:58.[50]
During the meeting Putin went on a history lecture about Ukraine and Russia being "one nation," which caused Trump to raise his voice and threaten to walk out. Trump later proposed lifting sanctions against Russia for a ceasefire, but this was rejected by Putin, who insisted on Ukraine ceding territory in theDonbas region. Trump cancelled the working lunch, during which the delegations were supposed to discuss economic cooperation.[52] TheFinancial Times reported that Putin lectured Trump on medieval and early modern Eastern European history, talking about the Viking chieftainRurik, Grand PrinceYaroslav the Wise and Cossack leaderBohdan Khmelnytsky.[53]
Trump gave a ceremonial gift to Putin of an "American Bald Eagle Desk Statue".[54]
Putin began the presser by acknowledging thatRussia–United States relations have suffered in recent years and that a meeting between the two nations was long overdue. Putin noted that negotiations were held in a "respectful, constructive and mutually respectful atmosphere". Trump began his remarks immediately afterwards saying he had "always had a fantastic relationship with President (Vladimir) Putin" but that it had been impeded by the "Russia hoax". Putin also noted his agreement with Trump that the security of Ukraine must be ensured.No substantial change in thestatus quo was announced, however, and neither Trump nor Putin took any questions from the world press.[50] Trump was notably vague and subdued after the summit,[55] not specifically mentioning Ukraine or a ceasefire even once (the putative reasons for the summit), and in marked contrast with Putin did not speak at length.[56]
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Following the meeting, Trump and Rubio downplayed the chances of increasing sanctions on Russia.[57] On August 17, Trump said that responsibility for peace fell on Zelenskyy, while saying that Ukraine should notregain Crimea or joinNATO.[58] On August 18 numerous European leaders arrived at the White House for what the BBC said amounted to awartime summit.[59]
A summit between Trump and Zelenskyy at theWhite House was held on August 18. Prior to this summit, EU leaders met with Zelenskyy at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, D.C.[60]
Steve Witkoff said that Putin agreed that the US could provide NATO-like protection to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy welcomed the United States' pledge to provide security guarantees to Ukraine.[61] Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov demanded that Russia be included in any future security guarantee, which theFinancial Times said would give it an effective veto over defence of Ukraine.[62]
During the meeting, Putin reportedly offered to end the war if Ukraine ceded all ofDonbas to Russia, but Zelenskyy rejected territorial concessions.[61]
In August 2025, U.S.-Russia relations showed signs of renewal after Presidents Trump and Putin met in Alaska and voiced interest ineconomic cooperation. According to aThe Wall Street Journal report,ExxonMobil andRosneft held "secret talks" to restart joint operations atSakhalin-1, tied to Ukraine peace talks. Exxon CEODarren Woods held direct talks with Trump at the White House and received a "sympathetic hearing" regarding the company's return to Russia.[63]
In September 2025, Trump changed his position and took a more pro-Ukrainian stance.[64][65][66]
In October 2025 Deputy Foreign Minister of RussiaSergey Ryabkov said that "The powerful momentum of Anchorage [summit] in favor of agreements has been largely exhausted by the efforts of opponents and the efforts of supporters of the "war to the last Ukrainian" [strategy] among Europeans", de facto stating the failure of negotiations.[67]
On 19 November 2025,Axios reported that Witkoff had discussed a newdraft 28-point U.S. peace plan with Russian envoyKirill Dmitriev inMiami over three days 24 to 26 October. The plan is a wide framework encompassing security guarantees, security in Europe, and future Russia–U.S. relations, based on the principles discussed in the Alaska summit.[68][69]
Trump's minimum expectation of a temporary cease-fire was not achieved[70] ("We didn't get there"),[71] whereas Putin had regained his stature on the world stage,[72][73] withThe Guardian describing the summit as a gift for Putin.[74]Jonathan Lemire, writing forThe Atlantic, stated, "That the summit happened at all was perceived by many as a victory for Putin, who, after years as an international pariah, was granted a photo with a U.S. president on American soil ... And he was greeted in an over-the-top, stage-managed welcome that involved a literal red carpet for a man accused of war crimes." Lemire interviewedJohn Bolton, a first-term Trumpnational security advisor, who said, “I think Trump did not lose, but Putin clearly won. Putin got everything he could have wished for, but he’s not home free yet. Zelensky and the Europeans must be dismayed. And I thought Trump looked very tired at the press event. Putin looked energetic."[75]
Diplomatic journalistSteven Erlanger wrote inThe New York Times that while European fears had not come to pass, its strategic position was no better.[76] According toThe Economist, the summit's most obvious development was Trump's pivot, from threatening Russia with "crippling sanctions" if the summit didn't yield a ceasefire, to accepting Russian demands for a full end to the war.[77] According toThe Wall Street Journal, "[Putin] ended his isolation in the West, made no public concessions, and can continue killing Ukrainians without further sanction."[78]
The editorial boardFinancial Times called the summit an "embarrassing failure" for Trump, and said that by not rejecting Putin's demand for Ukraine to cede further territory in Donetsk, Trump would leave Ukraine exposed to further Russian aggression. In its view, the two possible explanations for Trump's actions are either that "his mind is simply shaped by the last conversation he has had", or that Trump has always been sympathetic to Russia's ambition for territorial conquest; namely, "a world in which the strong triumph over the weak".[79]
Chinese analysts have said thatChina would likely face "increasing" geopolitical pressure if the United States and Europe provide NATO-style security guarantees to Ukraine.[80]
On August 15, the United States announced their list of delegates:[81][82]
President of the United States,Donald TrumpSecretary of State,Marco RubioSecretary of Treasury,Scott BessentChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,Dan CaineSecretary of Commerce,Howard LutnickSecretary of Defense,Pete HegsethDirector of the Central Intelligence Agency,John Ratcliffe United States Special Envoy to the Middle East,Steve WitkoffOn August 14, the Kremlin announced their list of delegates:[83][84][81]
President of the Russian Federation,Vladimir PutinForeign Affairs Minister,Sergey LavrovDefence Minister,Andrey BelousovFinance Minister,Anton Siluanov Aide to the President of Russia for Foreign Policy,Yuri Ushakov Special Presidential Envoy on Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation,Kirill DmitrievReuters reported that the Russian offer included:[85]
Donald trump had billed August 8th as deadline day for Vladimir Putin: stop fighting or face crippling sanctions. But as the day wore on, it seemed the ultimatum had come and gone without event. Then, around 6pm, the White House announced there would be a summit between Mr Trump and Mr Putin on August 15th in Alaska. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's president, apparently will not attend.
The most obvious change is the new acceptance of Russia's preferred sequencing. Gone is any prospect of a full ceasefire as a first stage, or of the crippling sanctions once promised by Mr Trump if Mr Putin would not agree to one ... Trump, abruptly siding with Mr Putin, now says the immediate goal must be a comprehensive peace.
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