Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s much-anticipated meeting in Alaska ended with smiles, handshakes, and talk of “progress,” but no deal to halt the war in Ukraine. After three hours of discussions, the two leaders offered friendly remarks and avoided hard questions, an unusual move for Trump, who rarely passes up an opportunity to spar with the press.

Both men hinted at areas of agreement, but neither laid out specifics. Putin flattered Trump, saying the war “would not have happened” if he had been president instead of Joe Biden. Trump called the meeting “extremely productive” but admitted, “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.” For Ukrainians still facing Russian missiles and tanks, such vague assurances are cold comfort.

This summit was heavy on optics: Trump escorted Putin into “The Beast,” a B-2 bomber roared overhead, and the two spoke beneath a banner that read “Pursuing Peace.” Yet peace remains distant. Russia has recently made battlefield gains even as Ukraine retook a few........

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