US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska on August 15 to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Trump announced the meeting after a deadline he imposed on Russia to agree to a Ukraine ceasefire passed without any new commitments. “We are going to have a meeting with Russia. We’ll start off with Russia,” Trump said, hosting leaders from Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed the meeting, describing the Alaska location as “quite logical” due to its proximity to Russia. Trump suggested any breakthrough would require the exchange of territory, a prospect Ukraine and its European allies have long opposed. “It’s very complicated. But we’re going to get some back, and we’re going to get some switched. There’ll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both,” Trump said.
Ukraine and its allies have consistently rejected any agreement involving ceding occupied territory to Russia, including Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia. Putin has repeatedly stated that any deal must require Ukraine to relinquish some territories Russia has seized since 2014 and pause Western aid. The Russian leader also demands an end to Kyiv’s efforts to join the NATO military alliance.
The meeting’s location in Alaska raises logistical questions, particularly since Putin faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. However, the US is not an ICC member and does not recognize the court’s authority, making Alaska a feasible location for the summit.
Trump has positioned himself as a self-described “peacemaker,” but his inability to bring the Ukraine war to a close has become a source of resentment between him and Putin. Despite growing frustration with Russia’s continued attacks, Trump hailed “great progress” in peace negotiations after his special envoy visited Putin in Moscow. According to US officials, a ceasefire deal could potentially be reached during the meeting, although details remain unclear.