Trump and Putin met at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday afternoon to discuss an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine, which began more than three years ago. The pair announced “great progress” had been made, but they still did not reach any kind of plan to end the war.

At the Alaska-based summit Russian President Vladimir Putin received a red-carpet welcome from the U.S. that included a B-2 bomber fly-by and a ride in the presidential limousine, nicknamed "The Beast" with video of him laughing with Trump.

Trump said after meeting with Putin in Alaska the “best way” to end Russia’s war with Ukraine is “to go directly to a peace agreement,” and not a “mere ceasefire agreement.”

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed on Tuesday not to give eastern Ukrainian land to Russia, saying that abandoning the Donbas region would open the door for Russian President Vladimir Putin to “start a third war” in Ukraine.

Germany “welcomed” the president’s efforts to “achieve a just and lasting peace,” while the UK said the Trump-Putin summit represented “important progress."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested that the European venue for the potential summit could be a place where discussions take place on a permanent basis.

President Trump proclaimed Friday he and Russian President Vladimir Putin made “great progress” toward ending Moscow’s war on Ukraine after meeting for nearly three hours in

Hours before US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin were scheduled for a high-stake meeting in US state of Alaska, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky released a video statement on his X.