One year on, Alaska summit yields no progress on Ukraine war

A summit held in Alaska between former US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, intended to address the war in Ukraine, has proven largely inconsequential one year later. Then-President Trump's statement, "There's no deal until there's a deal," mirrored the ambiguity of Putin's remarks, leaving observers uncertain about potential outcomes.

Many had hoped the meeting might facilitate a breakthrough, particularly given Trump's prior threats of increased sanctions. However, concerns were high in Kyiv and European capitals that a deal could be struck without Ukrainian representation, potentially forcing unfavorable terms on the nation. Ultimately, the summit produced little to no tangible progress toward ending the conflict.

Following the meeting, Trump signaled a significant policy shift, abandoning the previously aligned US, Ukrainian, and European stance that a ceasefire should precede peace negotiations. This move, apparently influenced by Putin's position, was met with strong rejection from Ukraine and European leaders, who viewed it as an attempt to pressure Kyiv into territorial concessions. Instead of de-escalating tensions, Trump's policy shift appeared to galvanize European military support for Ukraine and reinforce their commitment to a ceasefire as the necessary first step toward substantive peace talks.

Putin made no concessions in Anchorage, maintaining his demand for control over all of Donbas as a primary condition for ending the war. Consequently, Ukraine has focused its diplomatic efforts on securing US security guarantees, a prerequisite for even considering discussions on territorial issues.

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There's no deal until there's a deal.