The August 15, 2025, summit in Anchorage, Alaska, between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has emerged in American media analysis as a case study in political theater. Designed to produce a major diplomatic breakthrough, it primarily generated symbolic and narrative outcomes while failing to achieve its main stated objective: ending the war in Ukraine. US press coverage, across the ideological spectrum, has largely defined this summit not by what was agreed upon, but by what was missing. The narrative crystallized around the stark contrast between a grandiose, high-stakes staging and the glaring absence of a concrete agreement.

This analysis aims to deconstruct this paradox, demonstrating that for President Putin, the symbolism was the substance, whereas for President Trump, the lack of substance necessitated a post-hoc reframing of the summit's objective and success. The following analysis will examine in detail how American media interpreted the inconclusive outcome of the talks, the near-unanimous perception of a strategic victory for the Kremlin, the rhetoric and actions of the American president, and the widely reported anxiety of allies.