Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:Reuters

In a major diplomatic development, United States President Donald Trump has announced that he will hold an in-person meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, 2025. The talks are aimed at discussing possible steps toward ending the ongoing war in Ukraine, a conflict that has shaken global stability for more than three years.

Trump revealed the meeting plans on Friday through an official statement and a post on his Truth Social account. He described it as a "highly anticipated" summit, adding that the discussions could include swapping certain territories between Ukraine and Russia. While he did not specify which regions could be affected, his remarks suggest a willingness to consider a territorial compromise—something that has long been a contentious issue in peace negotiations.

Kremlin Confirms and Supports Alaska Venue

Shortly after Trump’s announcement, the Kremlin confirmed the summit and called Alaska a “quite logical” location for such a meeting. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the main focus would be finding a long-term peaceful settlement to the Ukrainian crisis, which began in February 2022 when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

According to Ushakov, “The presidents themselves will undoubtedly focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.”

The war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and forced millions of civilians to flee their homes, many of whom remain displaced both inside and outside Ukraine. Entire towns and cities in the east and south of Ukraine have been left in ruins due to constant shelling and missile strikes.

First Face-to-Face Since 2019

This Alaska summit will mark the first meeting between sitting US and Russian presidents since June 2021, when then-US President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva.

For Trump, it will be his first in-person meeting with Putin since 2019, when they sat together during a G20 summit in Japan. Since Trump returned to the White House earlier this year, he and Putin have spoken by telephone several times, but they have yet to meet face-to-face until now.

Ushakov also revealed that Trump has been formally invited to visit Russia in the future, suggesting Moscow’s interest in continuing high-level engagement beyond the Alaska talks. “Looking ahead, it is natural to hope that the next meeting between the presidents will be held on Russian territory,” Ushakov said.

Diplomatic Moves Before the Summit

In the lead-up to the Alaska meeting, Putin has been strengthening his diplomatic contacts with other influential leaders. On Friday, he held conversations with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Kremlin said Putin briefed Xi on the results of his recent talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who visited Moscow earlier in the week. Xi reportedly expressed his support for a “long-term” solution to the Ukraine crisis and emphasized that China welcomes continued contact between Russia and the United States.

China and Russia have grown closer since the start of the war, expanding their economic, political, and military cooperation while jointly opposing many Western policies.

Putin’s phone call with Modi came shortly after India and Russia issued a joint statement criticizing new US tariffs on India’s oil imports from Russia. Modi has promoted his own peace plan for Ukraine, but so far it has not gained strong international backing.

Stalled Peace Efforts and Hardline Positions

The Alaska meeting comes after three failed rounds of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. So far, neither side has been willing to accept the other’s core demands.

At recent talks in Istanbul, Russian negotiators insisted that Ukraine must withdraw from certain territories it still controls and give up Western military support if Moscow is to stop its advance. These conditions were rejected by Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called for his country to be directly involved in any major peace talks. In his regular evening address on Thursday, he stressed:

“It is only fair that Ukraine should be a participant in the negotiations.”

Putin, however, has said he would only meet Zelensky in the “final phase” of a peace process, implying that Russia expects certain concessions before such a meeting could take place.

War Still Raging on the Ground

While diplomats are preparing for the Alaska summit, the fighting in Ukraine has not slowed.

On Friday, Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin announced that families with children will be evacuated from 19 villages in eastern Donetsk region due to advancing Russian forces. These villages are within roughly 30 kilometers of the front line and remain under constant threat of shelling. Hundreds of residents will be affected by the evacuation order.

Russian bombardments in recent weeks have targeted civilian infrastructure, residential areas, and energy facilities, making living conditions increasingly difficult for those who remain.

What’s at Stake in Alaska

The Alaska summit will be watched closely around the world. Many see it as a potential turning point, though others are skeptical it will produce any concrete results.

The possibility of a territorial swap—as hinted by Trump—could face strong opposition from Ukraine’s government and its Western allies, who fear it might reward Russia for using military force.

Still, for both leaders, the meeting represents a chance to reshape the direction of the war. Trump has made resolving the Ukraine conflict a key foreign policy goal in his first months in office, though until now he has struggled to achieve a breakthrough.

For Putin, the talks could be an opportunity to ease international pressure, reduce sanctions, and secure territorial gains through negotiation rather than continued fighting.

The Road Ahead

Whether the Alaska summit will pave the way for peace or simply serve as another round of high-profile but inconclusive diplomacy remains to be seen.

What is certain is that the war has caused immense human suffering, disrupted global trade, and strained international relations. The meeting between Trump and Putin on August 15 could be one of the most significant geopolitical events of the year—and perhaps the most important moment in the Ukraine conflict since it began.