Putin returns to Moscow announcing ‘major progress’

A summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended without a deal on ending the war in Ukraine, but Trump said “great progress” has been made in the talks in Alaska, Al Jazeera writes.

Observers say the meeting gave the Russian president a “diplomatic win” after years of being shunned by the West following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Putin was greeted with a red carpet and a warm handshake from Trump on arrival at a U.S. airbase in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday as both leaders arrived for talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

Following nearly three hours of closed-door negotiations, the two leaders issued only brief statements, without disclosing details or answering questions from the press.

Putin said the meeting had been “long overdue” and expressed hope that the agreements reached would contribute to peace. He also noted that Russia and Alaska are “close neighbors.”