On Friday, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin convened at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, marking their first face-to-face meeting since 2018 and the first since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The high-stakes summit aimed to address the ongoing war in Ukraine, a conflict that has devastated cities and displaced millions.

This rare encounter between the two world leaders, attended only by a small group of officials, showed how hard it is to resolve a conflict where both sides have different demands. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was notably absent, as President Putin reportedly requested his exclusion from the negotiations. Despite this, Trump said that he was willing to include Zelensky in his talks and that he would be the first person he’d call after the meeting.

The backdrop to this summit is a war that began when Russia invaded Ukraine, leading to widespread destruction and international sanctions. Previous efforts by global leaders have sought pathways to peace, but progress has been slow. Trump, who recently returned to the presidency, has repeatedly voiced confidence in his role as a potential peace broker because of his close relations with President Putin. Alongside the discussion on Ukraine, the leaders were expected to touch on issues of bilateral cooperation, trade, and diplomatic relations.

The meeting followed preparatory talks between Trump and European partners, as well as a meeting between Ukrainian President Zelensky and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Though the summit did not immediately promise a breakthrough, it underscored the continued global urgency to find an end to the war.