In a bid to explore possible solutions to the Ukraine war, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet face-to-face in Alaska on August 15. Trump announced the meeting on Friday through his social media platform, later confirmed by the Kremlin, which described Alaska as a “logical location” due to its proximity to Russia. Moscow has also extended an invitation for a second high-level summit in Russia. Ukraine has yet to issue an official response.
On the same day, Trump hinted that a peace deal might involve ceding some territories to Russia. Speaking to reporters at the White House, he said, “For more than three years, this conflict has claimed countless lives. Some areas will be returned, some will be exchanged—for the good of both sides.” According to CBS News, one potential proposal under discussion would allow Russia to retain control over the Donbas region and Crimea, while relinquishing Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. The Wall Street Journal reported that Putin recently made a similar offer to Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow. However, Ukraine and European nations have not clarified their stance. President Volodymyr Zelensky has already rejected any peace deal that involves giving up territory.
U.S. officials noted that the summit’s details are not yet finalized and that Zelensky may participate at some stage. Currently, Russia occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory. Despite three rounds of direct talks, the two sides have failed to bridge the gap on a peace agreement. Russia’s demands include turning Ukraine into a neutral state, reducing its military capability, abandoning NATO membership aspirations, lifting Western sanctions, and withdrawing Ukrainian forces from four southeastern regions.
Trump maintains there is still a window for a three-way peace accord. “European leaders want it, Putin wants it, and Zelensky wants it,” he said. “Zelensky is getting what he needs to sign and is preparing for it.” In an interview with the BBC last month, Trump revealed that at least four times he believed a deal to end the Russia–Ukraine war was within reach.
If held, this will be the first in-person meeting between Trump and Putin since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The last time a U.S. president met with Putin was in Geneva in 2021, when Joe Biden was in office.