Summit Proceedings & Proposals

The central feature of the summit was a Russian proposal that hinged on territorial concessions by Ukraine. According to reports, Putin insisted that Ukraine withdraw entirely from Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, thereby surrendering two regions that have been at the heart of the conflict since 2014. In exchange, Russia would freeze its military positions in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia and pull back from some contested border zones in Kharkiv and Sumy. The proposal extended beyond geography: it required Ukraine to renounce NATO membership, recognize Crimea’s annexation, and enshrine Russian language protections in its constitution.

Moscow also made clear that these concessions would be tied to the lifting of Western sanctions, especially those constraining Russia’s energy and banking sectors. Russian negotiators emphasized that sanctions relief was a condition for peace, portraying it as necessary for global energy stability. Putin presented the package as “the only realistic path forward,” warning that without agreement, Russia would pursue military alternatives (The Guardian, 2025a).
President Trump responded in ways that raised eyebrows. He shifted the American stance from seeking an “immediate ceasefire” to discussing a broader “peace agreement.” While Trump did not formally endorse the Russian proposal, he openly remarked that Ukraine should consider “making a deal” because “Russia is a very big power” (AP News, 2025). This statement suggested an openness to territorial concessions that had not been part of prior U.S. policy.
Though no joint communiqué was issued, Russian officials left Anchorage describing the talks as “productive.” U.S. officials were more cautious, emphasizing that discussions were preliminary. Nevertheless, the change in tone was unmistakable: for the first time since 2022, the White House appeared open to Russia’s framing of the conflict.

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