President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet next Friday, August 15, in Alaska to hold talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The announcement comes after weeks of diplomatic efforts and a missed deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire.
The summit, announced by President Trump on his social media platform, will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since 2019. The location, Alaska, holds historical significance as a former Russian territory. According to the Kremlin, the discussions will focus on a “long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis.”
President Trump has indicated that a peace deal would likely involve a “swapping of territories.” He stated that a resolution would not be easy but that “we’re going to get some back, and we’re going to get some switched.” This proposal faces opposition from Ukraine and its European allies, who have consistently rejected any agreement that would require ceding occupied land.
The planned meeting follows a visit to Moscow by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who held what were described as “highly productive” discussions with Putin. Trump had previously expressed frustration with Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine, threatening new sanctions on Moscow and countries that purchase Russian oil if a ceasefire was not reached. A deadline set by the Trump administration for Russia to agree to a ceasefire passed without any new commitments.
