The meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has concluded after more than two hours of talks. In a subsequent joint press conference lasting approximately 10 minutes, both leaders spoke of progress but confirmed that no final agreement was reached.
No Deal, But a “Starting Point”
According to the BBC, the two leaders’ private talks ended without a firm deal. Trump stated there is “no deal until there’s a deal,” adding that while they agreed on many points, they “didn’t get there” on some key issues, with “one being the most important.” He plans to call President Zelensky and other European leaders soon, emphasizing that the final decision “is up to them.”
For his part, Putin described the meeting as a “starting point for a solution” to the conflict, which he called a “tragedy.” He stated that he is “sincerely interested” in ending the war but warned that Russia must eliminate its “root causes” and that Ukraine and Europe should not “sabotage” the talks. He concluded the conference by responding to Trump’s hope to meet again soon with, “Next time in Moscow.”
Leaders’ Perspectives
Putin agreed with Trump’s repeated claim that the war would not have started if Trump had remained in office. He also described his relationship with the U.S. President as “business-like.”
The outcome of the summit means that now NATO, Europe, and Ukraine will be asked for their input on the next steps, as the two leaders have only laid the groundwork for future talks.
