Donald Trump arrived in Alaska expecting to strike a deal with Vladimir Putin to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Instead, the Russian president rejected his proposal outright — and launched into a lengthy historical lecture.
The two leaders spoke again on Thursday and agreed to meet in Budapest without setting a date — but the fraught Anchorage summit, which Trump nearly walked out of, had already reshaped the terms of their relationship.
Putin was greeted in Alaska with a handshake and a broad Trump grin, and momentum seemed on his side. But once behind closed doors, the warmth quickly faded, according to multiple people briefed on the talks.