US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska next Friday to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump announced the 15 August meeting on social media, with a Kremlin spokesperson later confirming it, noting Alaska’s proximity to Russia as a “logical” choice. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that any resolution must involve Ukraine, expressing readiness to collaborate with all partners for “lasting peace.”
The meeting announcement followed Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine might need to cede territory to end the conflict, ongoing since Russia’s 2022 invasion. “A lot of Russians have died. A lot of Ukrainians have died,” Trump remarked, hinting at potential territorial swaps. However, details remain sparse.
According to CBS News, the White House is lobbying European leaders to accept an agreement where Russia retains the Donbas region and Crimea but relinquishes parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. The Wall Street Journal reported Putin suggested a similar arrangement to Trump’s envoy in Moscow.
Ukraine’s stance, as reiterated by Zelensky, opposes any territorial concessions, maintaining that their lands “will not be given to the occupier.” He stressed that solutions excluding Ukraine are against peace, though he acknowledged a willingness to pursue genuine peace solutions alongside Trump and allies.
A senior White House official mentioned Zelensky might join Friday’s meeting in some capacity. Despite occupying 20% of Ukraine, Russia struggles to achieve a decisive victory, while Ukrainian offensives have not significantly pushed back Russian forces.
Previous peace talks in Istanbul have stalled, with Russia’s demands, including Ukraine’s neutrality, military reduction, NATO withdrawal, and lifting Western sanctions, deemed unacceptable by Kyiv and its supporters. Trump remains optimistic about a trilateral peace agreement, suggesting that European leaders, Putin, and Zelensky desire peace.
Trump has recently toughened his stance against Moscow, imposing an 8 August deadline for a Russian ceasefire or face new sanctions. However, this economic pressure was eclipsed by the in-person meeting plans. The White House hasn’t announced further sanctions, and this meeting marks the first direct leader exchange since Russia’s invasion began. The last US president to meet Putin was Joe Biden in Geneva, 2021.