Following a historic summit in Alaska, much attention has focused on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s broad smile as he departed alongside former U.S. President Donald Trump in the presidential limousine, “The Beast.” The moment, captured by cameras and widely shared online, was hailed by commentators as symbolic of renewed diplomacy between the two leaders. For Putin, the ride marked his first time in the iconic U.S. vehicle and a significant return to face-to-face dialogue after years of isolation due to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Trump described the summit as “very successful” in a Truth Social post, adding that he had also held productive talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO officials. He emphasized that all parties agreed on the need for a lasting peace agreement rather than a temporary ceasefire.

Despite the summit concluding an hour earlier than expected, both Trump and Putin struck a notably optimistic tone. Putin described the talks as constructive and claimed that agreements had been reached—though he offered no details. He expressed hope that the meeting could mark a turning point in U.S.–Russia relations and aid in resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

Trump reiterated that while progress had been made, a final resolution had not yet been reached. He expressed hope of arranging a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin in the near future, stating, “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.”

The meeting’s unexpected warmth has fueled speculation about a potential shift in the path toward ending the war. Observers are now watching closely to see if the summit will result in concrete steps toward peace or remain a symbolic gesture in a long diplomatic process.