Key Takeaways
- No immediate ceasefire was announced following the high-stakes meetings between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning to Ukraine and European nations, urging them not to derail "progress" achieved through provocations or conspiracies.
- Former President Trump characterized his discussions with Putin as "10 out of 10," signaling a positive personal assessment despite the absence of a formal peace agreement.
- Domestically, the Trump administration backed down from a full federal takeover of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, agreeing to keep the current police chief in place for now amidst a court challenge.
The highly anticipated summit between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, concluded without a formal ceasefire agreement for Ukraine. Despite this, Trump indicated that "some great progress" had been made, reiterating his stance that "there’s no deal until there’s a deal." The meeting, which lasted less than three hours, fell short of initial Kremlin estimates of six to seven hours.
Following the talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a strong message, cautioning Ukraine and European leaders against "provocations or conspiracies" that could undermine the diplomatic progress achieved. Putin expressed hope that the understanding reached with Trump would move both countries closer to peace in Ukraine, urging European capitals to act constructively.
Former President Trump, departing Alaska aboard Air Force One, described his meeting with Putin as "10 out of 10" to Fox News. This positive assessment from Trump comes even as his primary goal of securing an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine was not met. Trump had previously stated he "wouldn't be happy" without some form of a ceasefire.
On the domestic front, the Trump administration faced a legal challenge regarding its attempt to take over the Washington, D.C., police department. Amidst a court challenge, the administration agreed to keep D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith in place for the time being. This decision represents a partial retreat from the administration's earlier directive to place a federal official in charge of the department, a move that D.C. officials had sued to block.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.