Trump Defends Putin Summit Against Media 'Major Defeat' Claims

After his high-profile meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to dismiss criticism as nothing more than “fake news.” He claimed the war in Ukraine could be resolved “almost immediately” but blamed political opponents for making peace harder to achieve.

The summit, held at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, surprised many observers since earlier speculation suggested a neutral location, like the UAE. Critics accused Trump of giving Putin red-carpet treatment without receiving concrete concessions in return. While Trump officials hinted at possible Russian compromises, no ceasefire or peace deal was reached.

One of the most controversial points was Trump’s apparent dismissal of Ukraine’s long-standing goals: reclaiming Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and pursuing NATO membership. “No getting back Crimea and no NATO for Ukraine,” Trump declared. This stance aligns with Russia’s red lines but clashes with Ukraine’s position, as Kyiv has repeatedly said it cannot legally give up its land.

Meanwhile, Trump defended holding the summit on U.S. soil, arguing that critics would have attacked him no matter where the meeting took place. He also fired back at Senator Chris Murphy, who called the summit a “disaster” that handed Putin “everything he wanted.” Trump countered by saying, “Nobody got anything too soon, but getting close.”

Looking ahead, Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders would join him in Washington for crucial talks on Monday. He framed the gathering as historic, noting the unusual number of European leaders expected at the White House.

Adding to the drama, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff claimed Russia had offered a “game-changing” concession that could allow the U.S. to create security guarantees modeled on NATO’s Article 5 the principle that an attack on one ally is an attack on all. However, the details remain unclear.

As the next round of talks approaches, the divide is obvious: Trump suggests peace could come swiftly if Zelensky agreed to certain terms, while critics warn that his approach risks legitimizing Putin without securing meaningful gains for Ukraine.