WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump announced that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday in Alaska to discuss potential avenues for ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. This summit is seen as a critical opportunity to address the conflict, which began over three years ago when Russia invaded Ukraine, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. Despite Trump’s optimism, there remains a significant gap between Moscow and Kyiv regarding their conditions for peace.
The Kremlin has yet to confirm the meeting details, which Trump revealed on social media. However, both countries had indicated that such a meeting could occur soon. The potential summit comes amidst weeks of frustration from Trump, who expressed that more action was needed to quell the fighting in Ukraine.
During his comments to reporters at the White House, Trump suggested that any agreement reached could involve "some swapping of territories," although he provided no specific details on what this might entail. Analysts close to the Kremlin have speculated that Russia might be willing to relinquish control over areas outside the four regions it claims to have annexed. Trump also asserted that his meeting with Putin would take place prior to any discussions involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, raising concerns that Ukraine might be sidelined in peace efforts.
This planned meeting marks a departure from common diplomatic practices, as expectations were that the leaders would convene in a neutral country. By hosting Putin on U.S. soil, Trump grants him a degree of validation at a time when the U.S. and its allies have sought to isolate the Russian leader due to the ongoing conflict.
Historically, Putin has met with his U.S. counterparts, but such meetings have decreased since 2014, following Russia's annexation of Crimea and subsequent tensions surrounding interference in the U.S. elections. Putin's most recent visit to the U.S. was in 2015 for the U.N. General Assembly, making the anticipated meeting in Alaska the first between the two nations since 2021, when former President Joe Biden met with Putin in Geneva.
After outlining a framework for resolving long-standing conflicts elsewhere, such as between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Trump reiterated that his meeting with Putin would happen “very shortly,” specifying August 15 as the date. Yet, he noted that logistical and security arrangements have delayed the meeting until this date.
Trump has indicated that both Putin and Zelenskyy desire peace, stating that whatever deal is struck would likely involve some territorial exchanges. Despite his optimistic tone, he acknowledged the complexities of such negotiations, stating, “Nothing easy," and emphasized that reaching an agreement is essential to prevent further escalations in violence.
Ukrainian forces remain resolute in their defense, engaged in intense battles across a 1,000-kilometer front, particularly in the eastern Donetsk region. Commanders on the ground have expressed skepticism about the possibility of negotiating with Russia, with some stating that the only viable option remains military victory.
In conjunction with these developments, Putin has been actively communicating with international allies, including Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, regarding the conflict and potential diplomatic resolutions. This underscores a desire within Russia to garner support from allies as the specter of ongoing hostilities looms heavily over the region.
Analysts suggest that Putin is not genuinely interested in concluding the conflict but rather aims to extract concessions from the United States while perpetuating his war efforts. The Institute for the Study of War noted that Putin believes time favors Russia, allowing for a prolonged engagement against Ukraine and Western allies.
