Trump Plans Alaska Summit with Putin to Discuss Ukraine War

President seeks direct talks with Russian leader amidst ongoing conflict

President Donald Trump announced Friday he intends to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next week, aiming to address the protracted conflict in Ukraine. This potential summit comes after weeks of expressed frustration from Trump regarding perceived inaction to de-escalate the fighting.

Uncertainty Surrounds Meeting Details

While **Trump** initially declined to specify the exact time or location of the meeting with **Putin**, he later stated via social media that the “highly anticipated meeting” was scheduled for August 15 in Alaska. The Kremlin has yet to confirm these details. **Trump** also suggested that his discussion with the Russian leader could precede any talks involving Ukrainian President **Volodymyr Zelensky**.

Regarding the potential meeting, **Trump** remarked, “We’re going to have a meeting with Russia, start off with Russia. And we’ll announce a location. I think the location will be a very popular one.” He cited security arrangements as a reason for the delay, adding, “Otherwise I’d do it much quicker. He would, too. He’d like to meet as soon as possible. I agree with it. But we’ll be announcing that very shortly.”

Potential Breakthrough or Stalled Efforts?

If realized, this would be the first US-Russia summit since 2021 when former President **Joe Biden** met **Putin** in Geneva. The meeting could signify a breakthrough in **Trump**’s attempts to broker peace, though success is not guaranteed given the significant differences in peace conditions between Moscow and Kyiv.

Trump expressed optimism, stating, “President Putin, I believe, wants to see peace, and Zelenskyy wants to see peace.” He added, “In all fairness to President Zelensky, he’s getting everything he needs to, assuming we get something done.”

The president indicated that a peace deal might involve territorial exchanges. “We’re looking to get some back and some swapping. It’s complicated,” **Trump** said. “Nothing easy. But we’re gonna get some back. We’re gonna get some switched. There’ll be some swapping of territories, to the betterment of both.” This possibility aligns with suggestions from analysts that Russia might cede territories it controls outside the four regions it claims to have annexed.

When pressed on whether this was a final opportunity for a peace deal, **Trump** responded, “I don’t like using the term last chance,” emphasizing the difficulty of halting active hostilities.

Earlier in the week, **Trump** had set a Friday deadline for Russia to move towards a settlement, threatening additional sanctions and secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil if no progress was made. Despite these measures, the Kremlin’s forces have continued their slow advance in Ukraine, with both sides remaining far apart on peace terms.

Ukrainian Resolve Amidst Continued Fighting

Ukrainian troops are engaged in fierce battles along the extensive front line. Intense fighting is particularly concentrated in the Pokrovsk area of Donetsk, where Russia aims to push into the Dnipropetrovsk region. Reports indicate significant manpower shortages for Ukraine.

A drone unit commander, Buda, speaking from the Spartan Brigade, expressed skepticism about Russia’s interest in peace. “It is impossible to negotiate with them. The only option is to defeat them,” he told The Associated Press. “I would like them to agree and for all this to stop, but Russia will not agree to that. It does not want to negotiate. So the only option is to defeat them,” he added.

In the Zaporizhzhia region, a howitzer commander known as Warsaw stated that troops are determined to resist the invasion. “We are on our land, we have no way out,” he said. “So we stand our ground, we have no choice.”

Putin’s Diplomatic Outreach

President **Putin** has been actively engaged in phone calls with international leaders. On Saturday, the Kremlin reported a conversation with Chinese leader **Xi Jinping**, during which **Putin** briefed him on his recent meeting with a **Trump** envoy. **Xi** reportedly expressed support for a long-term settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. **Putin** is scheduled to visit China next month.

Indian Prime Minister **Narendra Modi** also spoke with **Putin** about Ukraine developments. The calls occurred shortly after **Putin** communicated with leaders from South Africa, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. These diplomatic exchanges suggest **Putin** may be informing key allies about a potential peace summit with **Trump**.

According to pro-Kremlin analyst **Sergei Markov**, these discussions indicate that “some sort of real peace agreement has been reached for the first time.” However, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, assessed that “Putin remains uninterested in ending his war and is attempting to extract bilateral concessions from the United States without meaningfully engaging in a peace process.” The institute added, “Putin continues to believe that time is on Russia’s side and that Russia can outlast Ukraine and the West.”

Concerns Over Ukraine’s Role

**Trump**’s willingness to meet **Putin** even without **Zelensky** present has raised concerns in Europe about Ukraine potentially being sidelined in peace efforts. These discussions follow **Putin**’s earlier expressed hope to meet **Trump** soon, with the United Arab Emirates suggested as a possible venue.

As of the latest reports, Ukraine’s forces are determined to continue their fight. The Ukrainian military reported that troops are prepared to sustain their defensive operations across the front lines. The conflict, the largest in Europe since World War II, continues to see active combat in various regions.