Trump & Putin Alaska Summit Untangled: What Just Happened?

“Ukraine should make a deal… because Russia is a very big power, and they’re not” – President Trump, following the Alaska summit. 

Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin just met in Alaska to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Many hoped for concrete commitments to put a stop to what’s become Europe’s deadliest conflict in decades, but instead the summit appears to have left behind a muddled reality. Russia looks emboldened, Ukraine seems sidelined, and the US continues sending mixed signals about its role in global leadership. 

With a range of news outlets reporting on this, here’s the Exposé’s summary of what happened in Alaska, why it’s so important, and what we expect to see next. 

Trump Changed His Tune

One of the clearest indications yet of his approach, Trump bluntly announced that Ukraine should make a deal. He acknowledged Putin had actually demanded more Ukrainian land, but argued that compromise was inevitable. He also described their meeting as “historic” claiming that he had taken a “major step toward peace”. However, notably, no ceasefire has been agreed, and loose hints about “future arrangements” have not helped to clarify what comes next. 

Bearing in mind, Trump had previously threatened “very severe consequences” if Putin did not agree to end the war, last month setting a deadline for Moscow to reach a ceasefire or face tough new sanctions, including secondary tariffs. 

But very little was announced by either president following Friday’s summit, while Trump insisted progress had been made. Putin described the summit as “very useful” and said he had been able to “set out our position” to Trump. He added: “We had the opportunity, which we did, to talk about the genesis, about the causes of this crisis. It is the elimination of these root causes that should be the basis for settlement.” 

Putin the “Clear Winner” in Alaska

While nothing has actually been signed or even apparently agreed, analysts are unanimous in their assessment that Putin came out on top. Sky News described him as the “clear winner” in Alaska, highlighting how even being able to stand alongside the US President on American soil, after years of being treated as their biggest enemy, marked a symbolic victory for Russia. 

Body language experts also drew the same conclusion. Noting Putin’s subtle confidence, leaning back and smiling at key moments, he rarely looked rattled. Meanwhile, Trump seemed animated, and at times even deferential. 

As one reporter put it: “Putin was probably laughing all the way home.” 

Dr Peter Collett, an expert in body language and psychology, said “In spite of their difference in height, Putin, although he’s very short, sits upright, ramrod, looking very confident, whereas poor old Trump is crumpled and turned inwards.” 

“What’s interesting is the high degree of smiling,” he continued. “It’s a very serious, sombre occasion and yet they find time to smile and display their pleasure – not only at meeting each other but about the whole exercise.” 

Social media in Ukraine lit up with fury as the reports came in from Alaska. Referring to Putin, commenters said: “He occupies territories… destroys entire cities, kills, rapes, robs, kidnaps, tortures, and as a result receives a red-carpet welcome” 

Ukraine’s Perilous Position

For Kyiv on the other hand, the outcome looks grim. Zelensky wasn’t even invited to the table, reinforcing widespread fears that Ukraine is being sidelined. His team have long warned of “dead solutions” – peace deals struck without their country’s input, seemingly rewarding Russian aggression.  

Zelensky heads to Washington on Monday. Facing enormous pressure, it’s expected that he will be pushed by Trump to accept territorial concessions in the name of ending the bloodshed. Zelensky, however, has often repeated that “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier”. 

In private, it’s understood that Ukrainian officials acknowledge their military position is weakening now, and after years of war, exhaustion sounds like it’s setting in for those on and off the battlefield. 

Reality Check? Crime, Power, Politics

Critics note that Trump’s reality and his rhetoric are often far apart, such as when he recently claimed that Washington DC was “one of the most dangerous cities in the world” despite crime being at a 30-year low. His portrayal of Ukraine’s chances against Russia paints the war as unwinnable, implying that Ukraine is too small to fight a “very big power”. It seems he is reframing the war from a matter of sovereignty to one of inevitability.  

For Putin, that framing is priceless. It bolsters his claim that Russia holds the upper hand, and that the West should stop backing Kyiv’s efforts to continue the fight. 

Current State of Affairs

While the Alaska summit failed to deliver peace, it did shed light on the real situation for all three parties: 

• Trump’s reputation as a dealmaker was reinforced, appearing willing to sideline old alliances if it means cutting through stalemates. This goes down well with his supporters, but alarms European allies. 
• Putin was treated as a respected partner by the world’s most powerful democracy – a monumental turning point after years of isolation. 
• Ukraine was simply reminded of its vulnerability. Without the US seeming to back the country, its bargaining power shrinks dramatically. 

For everyone else, the stakes remain high. Along with the usual threats of food insecurity, higher energy prices, and shifting security guarantees, the precedent of borders being able to be shifted by force could define the next years, and decades, of global conflict. 

What Happens Next?

• Zelensky will visit Washington on Monday to meet with President Trump. Will Ukraine resist the expected pressure to concede land, or will exhaustion bring compromise? 

• European powers insist that peace cannot come at Ukraine’s expense. However, they may end up shouldering more of the burden if Washington decides to power down or completely remove itself from supporting either side of the conflict. 

• If Russia walks away on top, it will send the world the clear message that military aggression pays. Revisionist powers elsewhere, such as China and Taiwan, will be keeping a keen eye on how this plays out. 

Final Thought

The Alaska summit will be remembered for symbolism rather than agreements. Trump came to the table as the one who can strike a deal with Putin. Putin left looking stronger, and Ukraine is yet to have its say. One Ukrainian soldier, as reported by Reuters, said “it feels like they are trading our lives for their politics”. 

Join the Conversation

Is Trump right to push Ukraine toward a deal? Has the US just handed Putin his biggest win yet? How will it go on Monday between Trump and Zelensky? Add your thoughts below.