At the Alaska summit, the Russian President openly displayed his apparent displeasure with the press who were aggressively trying to get their attention.
While the President is used to such media attention, Putin seemed visibly annoyed by the reporters’ persistence, a stark contrast to his background as a former KGB intelligence officer.
Prior to the summit, Trump was under pressure to reach an agreement with Putin to de-escalate tensions. Even Hillary Clinton, a former political rival, stated she would nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize if he could broker a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Despite having a complex relationship with the Ukrainian President, Trump has been able to work with both him and Putin.
Before the U.S.-Russia summit, Zelenskyy met with European leaders and participated in the “Coalition of the Willing” session, which Vice President JD Vance also attended. Trump also held a virtual meeting with European leaders on Wednesday to prepare for the crucial discussions.
Despite the absence of a final agreement on Friday, the meeting between Putin and Trump was generally considered a positive step.
Trump mentioned in an exclusive interview with Sean Hannity that the meeting went “very well” and that Putin is eager to finalize the deal. However, the president did not reveal the specific obstacle preventing them from reaching an agreement.
European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, commended Trump’s efforts in a signed statement.
The statement conveyed that the leaders appreciate President Trump’s work to halt the killings in Ukraine, put an end to Russia’s aggression, and establish an equitable and long-lasting peace. The leaders also restated their position, emphasizing that Ukraine requires solid security assurances to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Trump in Washington, D.C., on Monday, where they will discuss all the specifics involved in ending the violence and the war, according to his post on X.
Trump and Zelenskyy have both expressed interest in a trilateral meeting with Putin, though Zelenskyy was not present at the Alaska summit. However, Putin has not indicated any willingness to participate in such discussions.
Zelenskyy stated on Saturday that he urged Trump to increase sanctions if Putin refuses to participate in a trilateral meeting, echoing Trump’s previous warning of “very severe” economic repercussions for Russia if it obstructs the peace process.