On the 15th of August 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin held a summit in Alaska to discuss pathways to bring the Russo-Ukraine War to an end. Since this meeting, the overall verdict is that the summit was nothing more than lip-service, no concrete pathways to bring the Russo-Ukraine war to an end were established.

Many authors have shared skepticism on the Trump-Putin meeting. As Nick Walsh has found, ‘ Ukraine could have had a worse night. No deal was cooked up without them.

US President Donald Trump looked upset and tired. Perhaps because Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared unbowed, still talking about the “root causes” of the war, and sounding unreformed. In what sounded like a threat, he even warned Kyiv and its European allies to not meddle in whatever ongoing process he believes he has dragged Trump into.

“We expect that Kyiv and European capitals will perceive all this in a constructive manner and will not create any obstacles, will not make attempts to disrupt the emerging progress through provocations and behind-the-scenes intrigues,” Putin said.

Trump’s call to Kyiv and its NATO allies may present some sort of framework that Putin deemed an “agreement,” but ultimately in the look on Trump’s face and his words, it was clear he made no significant deal that he thinks will fly. The two didn’t even have lunch together and Putin raced out on his plane.

The hardest bits of negotiations are the bits that are left to be agreed at the end. And Trump’s statement that there were some “big” things left unsolved suggests little movement on issues like what land Putin wants and a ceasefire.

But there are two big wins here for Putin. First, the remarkable vision of a red carpet welcome to the United States and a ride in “the Beast” — which both present as an extraordinary form of reputational rehabilitation for an alleged war criminal. It was a horrific sight for many Ukrainians; soured further still by the Kremlin head calling Ukraine a “brotherly” nation, despite murdering its civilians for three and a half years.

The second win is time. Putin has bought more for his forces to advance across the frontline. It is unclear if Trump is sufficiently riled that secondary sanctions may follow in the days ahead. But Putin did not seem to behave as if he was in a hurry, suggesting further meetings and ongoing work. Time matters as Putin’s summer offensive is close to turning incremental gains into strategic wins.

In the end, Ukraine will wake up with its world unchanged. A ghastly world, but with no sudden US-Russian rapprochement or deal to try and swallow.’(CNN.2025) As Walsh has asserted, Trump and Putin’s meeting ended without any major deal being brokered. No concrete pathways to peace were established. This leaves Ukraine’s situation unchanged. Putin used the encounter to project strength and gain legitimacy, buying more time for Russia’s military advances. While Trump appeared frustrated and achieved little, Putin walked away with reputational and strategic advantages in the long term.

The Trump-Putin summit appears to have been more of a reputational boost for Putin, no concrete pathways to peace had been reached, however it has assuredly heightened pressure on world leaders to bring the conflict to an end.