At their first in-person meeting in five years, Russian President Vladimir Putin told former US President Donald Trump that the conflict in Ukraine would not have broken out had Trump remained in office in 2022. The remark came during their high-profile talks in Alaska, a venue Putin described as “symbolic” given the nations’ historical ties.

Confirming Trump’s oft-repeated claim that his presidency could have deterred Moscow’s invasion, Putin said, “I can confirm that.” He added that direct channels between Washington and Moscow had now been restored after a period of deep tensions. “We will always remember fighting side by side against common enemies. That shared legacy can guide us forward,” he noted.

The much-anticipated summit ended Friday without any concrete agreement to stop or suspend the war in Ukraine, which has entered its fourth year and remains the deadliest European conflict since World War II.

Putin acknowledged Ukraine dominated the discussions and commended Trump’s effort to “grasp the core of the conflict.” He said Russia remained “genuinely interested” in ending hostilities but insisted that its security concerns must also be addressed. “I share Trump’s view that Ukraine’s security must be ensured. With greater mutual understanding, peace can be achieved,” he said.

The two leaders held nearly three hours of closed-door talks before briefly appearing together before reporters. Trump, standing in front of a banner reading Pursuing Peace, said progress had been made but cautioned that no final accord was in place. “We agreed on many things. A couple of big ones remain unresolved. There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” he remarked.

The summit closed on a lighter note when Putin joked, “Next time in Moscow.” Trump replied with a smile, “That’s an interesting one. I’ll take some heat for it, but I could see it happening.”