President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. The high-stakes summit, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, aims to bring Putin back to the negotiating table, though Trump has not promised security guarantees for Kyiv.

Upon arrival, the two leaders shared a red carpet greeting and rode together in Trump's armored limousine, signaling the start of their discussions. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff joined Trump for the talks, while Putin was accompanied by his advisers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not attending the meeting but expressed that Ukraine is "counting on America." If the summit proves successful, Trump has suggested organizing a trilateral meeting with Zelensky.

Despite the cordial start, Putin did not respond to questions about agreeing to a ceasefire or stopping civilian casualties. Russian state media highlighted the "historic handshake" and described Trump's demeanor as "extremely friendly" towards Putin.

The meeting backdrop, adorned with "Pursuing Peace," underscores the US's intent to find a resolution. However, the summit's outcome remains uncertain, with discussions continuing behind closed doors.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed confidence that some US sanctions might be lifted following the summit, though no official announcements have been made yet.

Walton And Johnson