Russia ready to continue discussing Anchorage modalities with US — Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared Moscow's readiness to continue talks with the United States on 'Anchorage modalities', a term Russia uses to refer to alleged understandings reached during a 2025 summit with then-US President Donald Trump in Alaska. This declaration comes despite consistent denials from Washington that any formal agreement was ever struck, highlighting a persistent diplomatic chasm over how to approach a potential peace settlement for the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The 'Anchorage modalities', which Russia interprets as a 27-point framework proposed by the US involving Ukrainian territorial concessions like full control of Donbas, have been a contentious point since the August 2025 meeting. While Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has previously emphasized these 'understandings' as the basis for a settlement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently clarified that the Alaska meeting produced only 'proposals,' not binding agreements. This diplomatic tug-of-war unfolds as Putin simultaneously asserts Russia's intent to achieve its war goals militarily, even rejecting recent Ukrainian proposals to limit fighting to specific occupied regions. Looking ahead, Putin expressed expectations for US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to visit Moscow, contingent on Washington concluding its 'active phase' in the Middle East's Iran conflict. The stark differences in interpretation of past discussions, coupled with Russia's declared military focus and Ukraine's ongoing strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, cast a long shadow over the prospects for genuine de-escalation. Observers will be keenly watching whether any future talks can bridge this fundamental divide or if Russia merely seeks to legitimize its maximalist demands through continued engagement.