🅑🅨 🅚🅐🅩🅘 🅕🅐🅗🅢🅘🅝, Anchorage, Alaska – August 15, 2025
In a high-stakes diplomatic effort to end the war in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump is meeting today with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. The summit, seen by some as a potential turning point and by others with deep skepticism, is aimed at securing a ceasefire in a conflict that has devastated Eastern Europe for more than three years.
Held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the location was chosen for its relative equidistance between Washington, D.C., and Moscow. This marks the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since 2018 and the first U.S.-Russia summit since mid-2021, just months before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Trump has described the meeting as a preliminary step to gauge Putin’s willingness to negotiate, with the possibility of a second summit that would include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“My top priority will be to determine whether a ceasefire in Ukraine is possible,” Trump said earlier this week. He stressed that while it is not his role to impose an agreement, he intends to facilitate a solution acceptable to both Moscow and Kyiv.
The lead-up to the summit followed months of diplomatic maneuvering. Trump had set deadlines for Russia to commit to a ceasefire, warning of severe tariffs and sanctions if it refused. As the latest deadline neared, both sides finalized plans for this bilateral meeting. Putin has praised Trump’s “sincere efforts” to end the crisis, though the decision to exclude Zelenskyy from the talks has drawn criticism.
Zelenskyy has made clear that peace must be negotiated with Ukraine’s direct involvement, warning that decisions made without Kyiv would undermine the prospects for a lasting settlement. Many Ukrainians fear that concessions, particularly over territory, could come at their expense.
Reports suggest that the talks may touch on sensitive proposals, including potential territorial arrangements recognizing Russian control over certain areas in exchange for a cessation of hostilities. Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected any agreement that cedes Ukrainian land, while Trump has said such decisions would be left to Ukraine.
Experts remain divided over the likely outcome. For Putin, the meeting offers renewed international visibility and the possibility of solidifying territorial gains. For Trump, a breakthrough would be a major foreign policy success. Critics warn, however, that meeting on U.S. soil could legitimize Putin without securing a just peace, risking divisions among Western allies.
As discussions begin, Trump has estimated a 25% chance that the talks could fail. Should they succeed, a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine may follow. If they collapse, Trump has pledged unspecified but “very severe” consequences for Russia. The next steps for the war — and for global diplomacy — will depend on what emerges from Alaska today.
Related questions and answers
Q1: Why was Anchorage chosen for the summit?
A1: Its location is roughly equidistant between Washington, D.C., and Moscow, making it a symbolic and practical meeting point.
Q2: Why is Ukraine’s president not part of this meeting?
A2: Trump described this as a preliminary session to gauge Putin’s seriousness before potentially involving President Zelenskyy in future talks.
Q3: What is at stake in these discussions?
A3: The talks could influence the future of the Ukraine war, potentially leading to a ceasefire or reshaping territorial control.
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