It was August 2025 when the world held its breath. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, two of the most scrutinized figures in modern history, stood on a red carpet at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. The "Alaska Summit" was supposed to be the "big one"—the meeting to end the war in Ukraine and reset the global clock. But now that we’ve rolled into early 2026, everyone is asking the same thing: is the Trump Putin summit over, or was that just the opening act?
Honestly, the answer depends on who you ask in Washington or Moscow. If you mean "is the physical meeting in Alaska finished?" then yes, the planes have long since departed. But if you’re asking whether the diplomatic summit—the process of these two guys rewriting the rules of the world—is over, the answer is a hard no. In fact, things are getting weirder by the day.
The Alaska Summit: What Actually Went Down
People expected a grand treaty. They wanted a signed piece of paper with fancy pens and a "Mission Accomplished" vibe. Instead, the Anchorage meeting was... quiet. Too quiet.
Trump and Putin met for hours with almost no press. When they came out, Trump was unusually subdued. He didn't take questions. He didn't brag about a "great deal" immediately. He just said he’s always had a "fantastic relationship" with Putin and blamed the "Russia hoax" for holding things back. Putin, on the other hand, was his usual self—cool, calculated, and talking about "mutual respect."
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The real bombshell came later. It wasn't a formal agreement, but a "vibe shift." Trump basically hinted that the ball was in Ukraine’s court to cede territory. Since then, the pressure on Kyiv to sign a deal surrendering parts of the Donbas has been relentless. Moscow loved it. Europe? Not so much.
Why the Summit Never Truly Ended
While the physical event in Alaska is in the rearview mirror, the "summit" has basically morphed into a permanent state of high-stakes texting. Look at the calendar for 2026. We are currently staring down the barrel of February 5, 2026. That is the day the New START treaty—the last big nuclear arms deal between the U.S. and Russia—expires.
- The Nuclear Clock: Putin suggested in late 2025 that they just "keep the limits" for another year. Trump’s response? In a New York Times interview on January 8, 2026, he said, "If it expires, it expires. We'll just do a better agreement."
- The "Billionaire" Envoys: Just this week, news broke that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are looking to visit Moscow. They aren't traditional State Department suits. They are Trump’s inner circle. This tells you the "summit" is now happening in private backrooms, far away from the cameras in Alaska.
- The Venezuela Curveball: Trump’s recent moves in Venezuela—including the ousting of Maduro—have thrown a wrench into the Russia relationship. Putin is annoyed because Russia had big stakes there. Suddenly, the "friendship" from the Alaska summit is being tested by old-school power plays.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "End" of the Summit
The biggest misconception is that the Alaska summit failed because no peace treaty was signed on the spot. That’s not how Trump plays the game. He treats these summits like a first date to see if the other guy is "ready to talk."
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For Putin, the summit was a victory just by happening. For the first time since the 2022 invasion, a U.S. President treated him like a legitimate partner instead of a pariah. That "gift" of legitimacy doesn't expire just because the meeting is over. It changed the chemistry of the whole war.
The 2026 Reality Check
We are currently in a weird "limbo" phase. While the Alaska summit is technically over, the fallout is just reaching its peak.
- Ukraine is isolated: With the U.S. pushing for territorial concessions, the European Union is trying to step up with a €90 billion package, but they feel like they’re being ghosted by Washington.
- Oil is the new battlefield: Trump wants to flood the market with Venezuelan and American oil. This hurts Putin’s wallet. Even though they smiled in Alaska, the 2026 economic reality is a lot more cutthroat.
- The "New" Summit: Rumors are swirling about a follow-up meeting in Europe, maybe Davos or a neutral spot like Budapest (though that one was supposedly cancelled).
Actionable Insights: What to Watch For Next
If you’re trying to track whether the US-Russia "thaw" is actually happening or if it’s all just talk, keep your eyes on these three things:
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- February 5, 2026: If New START expires without even a "handshake" extension, the Alaska summit was a failure. If they announce a "framework" for a new deal, the summit spirit is alive.
- The Kushner/Witkoff Trip: If Trump’s personal envoys actually land in Moscow this month, it means the real "summit" is happening now, and Alaska was just the teaser trailer.
- Oil Prices: If Trump successfully "Putinizes" foreign policy by taking over energy sectors in places like Venezuela, watch how Putin reacts. The "bromance" might hit a wall if it starts costing Russia billions.
The Alaska summit isn't "over" in the sense that its story is finished. It was the catalyst for a total collapse of the old international order. We’re just living in the messy aftermath now.
Next Steps:
Keep a close watch on the official State Department briefings regarding the New START treaty expiration in the coming weeks. Additionally, monitoring the movement of private presidential envoys to Moscow will provide a much clearer picture of the actual diplomatic trajectory than any public press release.