US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska on 15 August to discuss potential pathways to ending the war in Ukraine. The summit follows Trump’s self-imposed 8 August deadline for Moscow to agree to a ceasefire or face tougher US sanctions a deadline that instead culminated in the announcement of face-to-face talks.
Trump has long claimed he could broker peace between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours if in office. Despite three rounds of talks this summer at his urging, the two nations remain far apart. Trump recently expressed disappointment in Putin, but said a deal to “stop the killing” is “very close.”
The proposed framework being floated by Trump’s team reportedly involves territorial concessions allowing Russia to retain Crimea and much of the Donbas region, while ceding control of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia back to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected such proposals, calling them “decisions against peace” if made without Kyiv’s involvement. He insists Ukraine will not reward Russia for its invasion or surrender constitutionally protected territory.
For now, the Alaska meeting is a bilateral Trump-Putin summit, though US Vice-President JD Vance has suggested Zelensky could join later. Vance argued it would not be “productive” for Zelensky to meet Putin before Trump’s discussions, emphasising the need for US leadership to bring both sides together.
The location carries symbolic weight: Alaska was once Russian territory, sold to the US in 1867. Russian officials called it a “logical” choice, noting the proximity across the Bering Strait. The exact venue has not yet been disclosed.
Expectations remain low, given both leaders’ entrenched positions. Moscow demands Ukrainian neutrality and recognition of its territorial claims, while Kyiv insists on full sovereignty over all its lands. Any potential agreement is likely to leave both sides dissatisfied, Vance admitted.
The Alaska summit will mark the first major diplomatic event there since 2021, when US-China talks in Anchorage turned contentious. Whether this meeting produces meaningful progress or simply another high-profile stalemate remains to be seen.
