President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska on Friday in their high-stakes summit seeking a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, but while Putin mentioned an “agreement” in the post-meeting news conference and Trump said “great progress” was made, there was no mention of a ceasefire.
One key party not be in attendance Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump said after his meeting with the Russian president that he would call Zelenskyy and update him on the talks.
Neither Putin nor Trump took questions from the hundreds of reporters gathered for their news conference, instead quickly shaking hands before leaving the stage.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight amid Putin-Trump summit
Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with a ballistic missile and 85 drones, the Ukrainian Air Force said Saturday morning.
Ukraine’s air defense systems repelled 61 of the drones, while missile and drone strikes were recorded at 12 locations across the country, according to the air force.
Meanwhile, Russia’s air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 29 Ukrainian drones overnight, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Zelenskyy to travel to DC on Monday to meet with President Trump
Following what was described as a “lengthy” phone call with President Trump, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has announced that he will be traveling to Washington, D.C. on Monday to meet with President Donald Trump.
On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war. I am grateful for the invitation,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
He also stated that he had “a long, substantive conversation with President Trump, initially one-on-one, and then also with the participation of European leaders. In total, we spoke for more than an hour and a half, approximately one hour with President Trump.”
President Donald Trump has been speaking with NATO leaders over the phone, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, ABC News has learned.
This follows what was described as a “lengthy” call with President Zelenskyy.
Trump has been working the phones for much of the six hour journey back to Washington, D.C., Leavitt said
Trump says ‘up to President Zelenskyy to get it done’
President Donald Trump, in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, offered little clarity about the many questions that lingered after the conclusion of the Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In the interview, Trump did not reveal many details about the meeting, including the sticking points between the two sides.
Trump reiterated that there were still “pretty significant items” left to discuss, punting final negotiations to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies.
“I mean, a lot of points were agreed on, but there’s not that much, as you know, one or two pretty significant items. But I think they can be reached now, it’s really up to President Zelenskyy to get it done. And I would also say the European nations, they have to get involved a little bit, but it’s up to President Zelenskyy,” Trump said.
Trump also punted considering consequences like sanctions to “two weeks or three weeks” from now, saying that because of “what happened today” he doesn’t have to “think” about it. The president also indicated there are still plans for a trilateral meeting, with Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy.
When asked what his advice for Zelenskyy was when they spoke by phone after the summit, Trump was blunt: “Make the deal.”
“Gotta make the deal, yeah. Look, Russia is a very big power, and they’re not,” Trump said.
