It was a welcome tailored for a close friend, not a war criminal, and it looked to the Ukrainians like their nightmare.

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin high-stakes summit in Anchorage, Alaska, has come to an end. After more than two hours of talks, the two leaders appeared in a joint press conference, with both leaders alluding to progress but not announcing any specifics, including a ceasefire deal.

After leaving Alaska, Trump says he would prefer to "go directly to a peace agreement" to end the war in Ukraine as he prepares to meet Zelensky on Monday.