President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next week in an effort to negotiate a ceasefire in the ongoing war in Ukraine — a move that has sparked both anticipation and alarm among U.S. allies.
The summit, set for Friday, August 15, will mark Putin’s first visit to U.S. soil in nearly a decade. Trump described the meeting as a “highly anticipated” step toward ending the conflict, saying discussions would likely include “some swapping of territories” between Ukraine and Russia.
The planned exclusion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy from the talks has fueled concerns in Kyiv and European capitals that Washington could agree to concessions Ukraine has firmly rejected. Multiple sources familiar with ongoing discussions say negotiators are circling a deal that would cement Russia’s control over Crimea and the eastern Donbas region — territory seized in violation of international law.
Such an agreement would require Ukraine to withdraw troops from remaining strongholds in Donetsk and Luhansk, effectively granting Moscow a victory it has failed to secure militarily since its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Trump acknowledged that territorial adjustments would likely form part of any deal, calling the matter “very complicated” but suggesting the outcome could be “to the betterment of both.”
Zelenskiy has repeatedly vowed not to cede Ukrainian land and has demanded full Russian withdrawal alongside reparations for war damages. But on Friday, Trump insisted that the Ukrainian leader was “working hard” to prepare for a potential agreement.
The Alaska announcement follows a week of intensive diplomacy, including a three-hour meeting in Moscow between Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. According to officials, the emerging framework would see Russia halt offensives in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson while retaining control of territory already occupied.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that Moscow has invited Trump to visit Russia for a follow-up meeting, calling it “natural” to host the next round of talks on Russian soil.
Trump’s willingness to meet Putin without Ukraine at the table recalls past criticism of his relationship with the Russian leader, notably after his 2018 Helsinki summit, where he appeared to side with Putin over U.S. intelligence assessments on election interference.
