"Trump Didn’t Lose, But Putin Clearly Won," Says John Bolton After Alaska Meeting

Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton has weighed in on the high-profile Alaska summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, declaring that while Trump avoided a direct loss, Putin emerged as the clear winner.

Bolton: Trump Left Empty-Handed

Speaking after the meeting, Bolton remarked that Trump had little to show for his talks with Putin.

“Trump did not lose, but Putin clearly won,” Bolton said. “Trump didn’t walk away with anything concrete, except the prospect of more meetings.”

His statement highlighted the lack of tangible progress for Washington, despite the summit’s significance.

Putin’s Strategic Gains

Bolton argued that Putin succeeded in advancing his broader objectives.

“Putin has gone a long way to reestablishing the relationship, which I always believed was his key goal,” he noted.

According to Bolton, Putin managed to avoid new sanctions, secured freedom from any immediate ceasefire obligations, and left the door open for future talks — all without making meaningful concessions.

Ukraine Left in the Dark

Bolton also pointed out the glaring omission: Ukraine’s leadership was excluded from the loop.

“President Zelensky wasn’t informed of any of this before the press conference,” Bolton said. “It’s far from over, but I’d say Putin achieved most of what he wanted. Trump achieved very little.”