Donald Trump Shares Reaction After Meeting with Vladimir Putin

In the city of Anchorage, Alaska, a closed-door meeting lasting more than three hours took place between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. After this much-anticipated meeting, both leaders held a press conference to express their reactions for the first time. Although optimism was evident, there was also a note of caution.

Putin began speaking at the press conference. The American President speaks first. However, Putin highlighted the deterioration of American-Russian relations, stating that they have reached the “lowest point since the Cold War.” Emphasizing the need for dialogue instead of conflict, he said, “At some point, this situation needs to improve. This meeting is long overdue.”

Putin clarified that “it is expected that Ukraine and European countries will not obstruct the peace process.” He thanked Trump for his “goodwill approach” and emphasized the need for both countries to focus on achieving concrete results. “Trump is committed to the progress of his country, but he is also aware of Russia's interests,” Putin said.

Trump said, “The meeting was extremely productive and consensus has been reached on many issues, there are some major issues where we have not yet fully arrived, but progress has been made,” he noted. Although a final agreement was not reached in this high-level meeting, both leaders emphasized the need for progress and continuity of dialogue. It became clear that multilateral cooperation and coordination are necessary, especially to resolve the Ukraine issue.

At the end of the meeting, Putin delivered a direct message in English, “Next time in Moscow.” This statement opened the door for future discussions and created the possibility of the next meeting being held in Russia. The discussions in Alaska were considered a diplomatic victory for Putin, as he conveyed a message of response to the alienation from the West. For Trump, this meeting was an important step towards stopping the war in Ukraine. It became clear that by including Zelensky, the path for broader discussions was opened.