Trump-Putin Summit Confirmed for Alaska Next Week Amid Ceasefire Pressure

President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to hold a highly anticipated summit in Alaska next Friday, August 15, as confirmed by Mr. Trump on Truth Social. The meeting comes just a day after the August 8 deadline imposed by Trump for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, the status of potential hefty sanctions remaining unclear.

Sources close to the matter indicate that while the Alaska summit is confirmed, planning remains fluid, with the possibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joining the discussions. Mr. Trump has expressed openness to meeting with both leaders, though he initially suggested a one-on-one with Putin, stating he plans to “start off with Russia.” He also expressed optimism about a potential trilateral meeting.

This marks the first face-to-face encounter between an American leader and Putin since former President Joe Biden’s meeting in Switzerland in June 2021, eight months before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The summit’s primary objective from the U.S. side appears to be pressing Putin for a ceasefire deal with Ukraine, a topic on which Mr. Trump has recently expressed frustration over slow progress and disappointing phone calls with the Russian leader.

Despite the ongoing conflict, Russian businessman and Putin adviser Kirill Dmitriev acknowledged the planned meeting on X, suggesting cooperation on environmental, infrastructure, and energy initiatives in the Arctic and beyond, without mentioning the war directly. The White House and the Kremlin indicated openness to the summit following a “very productive” meeting between Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Putin in Moscow earlier this week.

While President Trump believes both Putin and Zelenskyy desire peace, the specific terms of any potential deal remain elusive. Russia currently occupies significant portions of eastern Ukraine, and past demands have included Ukraine’s withdrawal from territories and an end to its NATO aspirations. Mr. Trump has previously suggested “some swapping of territories” and has, at times, blamed both leaders for prolonging the conflict, even pausing military aid to Ukraine on previous occasions.

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