U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, marking their first face-to-face talks since 2019. The announcement comes amid reports the White House may invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, though officials caution no final decision has been made.
Trump's suggestion that any peace deal could involve "some territorial swaps" - likely referring to Russian-occupied regions like Crimea and Donbas - has already drawn sharp rebuke from Kyiv. "Ukraine will not hand over its territory," Zelensky declared, setting the stage for potential tensions should he attend the summit.
The meeting represents a high-risk diplomatic gambit for Trump, who campaigned on quickly resolving the conflict but has struggled to deliver. For Putin, it presents an opportunity to ease Western sanctions while potentially securing territorial gains. European leaders, notably excluded from the talks, have expressed concern any agreement made without Ukraine's full participation could legitimize Russian conquests.
Observers note the Alaska location - far from Washington yet still U.S. soil - provides symbolic neutral ground. However, with Ukraine rejecting territorial concessions and Russia insisting on its maximalist demands, the summit appears more likely to expose enduring divisions than produce immediate breakthroughs. The key question remains whether Trump can bridge the gap between Moscow's ambitions and Kyiv's red lines without alienating European allies or appearing to abandon Ukrainian sovereignty.
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