Trump, Putin End Summit Without Ukraine Cease-fire Deal— Reports

Trump, Putin End Summit Without Ukraine Cease-fire Deal— Reports

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin failed to reach a breakthrough on Ukraine during their high-stakes summit on Friday, though they highlighted areas of agreement and revived a cordial relationship.

No progress was made toward a ceasefire.

The talks, which lasted three hours with aides present, ended abruptly. Both leaders exchanged warm words but took no questions from reporters—a rare move for the usually media-savvy former U.S. president.

“We’re not there yet, but we’ve made progress. There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump said.

He called the meeting “extremely productive” with “many points” agreed, although he did not offer specifics.

“There are just a very few that are left; some are not that significant, one is probably the most significant,” Trump said without elaborating.

At a brief 12-minute joint press appearance, Putin spoke only in broad terms about cooperation.

“We hope that the understanding we have reached will… pave the way for peace in Ukraine,” Putin said.

When Trump floated the idea of a second meeting, Putin responded with a smile and, in English, quipped: “Next time in Moscow.”

The former KGB officer also sought to flatter Trump, who has long spoken admiringly of him.

Putin echoed Trump’s claim that the war in Ukraine—launched on his own orders, would not have occurred if Trump, rather than Joe Biden, were in the White House.

Trump, meanwhile, repeated his dismissal of U.S. intelligence findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 election on his behalf, again calling it a “hoax.”

Ahead of the summit, Trump had threatened “severe consequences” should Russia reject a ceasefire.

Yet in a post-meeting interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, he backtracked, saying: “Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now.”

The contrast was striking compared to Trump’s tense February meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where he offered criticism rather than warmth.