August 17, 2025

The world was watching as U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska for a fiery, nearly three-hour summit. While hopes were high, the final show was a bit of a dud – no deal was made to pause or end Russia's war in Ukraine. Still, both leaders said the talks were ‘productive’ and ‘progress’ was made, even if no specifics came out. Before leaving the stage, Trump said, “There were many, many points that we agreed on. I would say a couple of big ones that we haven’t quite got there, but we’ve made some headway.” But when reporters shouted questions, the usually talkative Trump stayed silent. What’s the buzz from experts after this big meeting? Helima Croft of RBC Capital Markets in New York called it exactly what many expected: “Soundbites signaling diplomatic progress but few concrete deal specifics.” She wonders if this ‘to be continued’ moment will ease sanctions on India for buying Russian oil, but doubts Europe will drop its pressure anytime soon. Carol Schleif, a market strategist from Minneapolis, summed it up well: “The only news was absolutely no news out of it.” She points out that markets don’t stick to geopolitical drama for long; they buzz more about things like inflation and consumer news. Eric Teal from North Carolina saw a silver lining: “No economic sanctions is a positive and markets should breathe a sigh of relief.” He noted that oil prices are low and the prospect of sanctions didn’t happen. This might cause energy stocks to rally, especially as demand heats up. He also suggested gold and precious metals might drop but still could be good buys during inflation worries. Eugene Epstein of Moneycorp in New Jersey said the meeting was “a first step towards potentially something more.” He added, “It basically was just showing their willingness to have continued talks to arrive at a conclusion that is beneficial for all parties.” Tom Di Galoma, a trading director from Utah, feels groundwork for a deal has been set. He predicts a possible three-way meeting between Trump, Putin, and Ukrainian President Zelenskiy soon. “They will probably reach a deal in 30 days,” he said, although he was disappointed that no questions were taken after the talks. Michael Ashley Schulman from California believes that after three years of war, this meeting won’t shake markets much. Jamie Cox from Virginia pointed out a major issue: “Without Ukraine at the table, there was little chance for a peace accord. That Putin attended at all was significant, but he can’t be seen ending the conflict while on American soil meeting with Trump.” So, the big takeaway? The Alaska summit didn’t end the war or make big breakthroughs, but it opened the door for more talks. Markets may just smile quietly, the energy sector might get a little boost, and the peace story is still unfolding. The next chapters? Keep watching this space!

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Tags: Trump, Putin, Ukraine war, Alaska summit, Energy sanctions, Market reaction,