Kremlin reveals plans for a gathering in Alaska
The much-anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled for Friday at the US military base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. The summit's main goal is to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia in 2022.
According to Putin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, the talks will begin at 11:30 AM local time (9:30 PM CEST). The agenda for the summit includes discussions on the war in Ukraine, bilateral economic cooperation, and global security issues.
The Russian delegation is expected to include Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Kirill Dmitriev, who is responsible for US negotiations. Moscow is still convinced of the "enormous, untapped potential for trade and economic cooperation between Russia and the US", but no specific economic topics have been mentioned in relation to the summit.
While the 2025 Russia–United States Summit primarily focused on the Russo-Ukrainian War, other potential discussion topics included economic and trade agreements. Russia brought a business delegation, led by Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, hoping to complete deals. Trump had previously suggested potential investments in Alaskan oil and joint Russian-American rare earth minerals exploration. However, no business agreements were announced during the summit.
Trump pursued two tracks in negotiating with Russia: improving diplomatic ties and offering trade incentives to Russia in exchange for better relations. This included discussions on diplomatic normalization and potential economic benefits for both countries. However, no significant announcements or agreements on these topics were made during the summit, and its primary focus remained on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The summit provided a platform for Putin to press his narrative on global issues, including Ukraine's alignment with Western institutions and Russia's influence in Eastern Europe. Trump, who seems to share some elements of Putin's worldview, indicated potential delays in imposing tough sanctions.
Kyiv will not be represented in the negotiations. At the end of the summit, a joint press conference will be held. No specifics about a potential follow-up meeting involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have been provided yet.
A working breakfast for the two presidents with their delegations is also planned. Putin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov did not address Trump's threats of "severe consequences" if Russia refuses to agree to a ceasefire.
- Despite the focus on the Ukraine conflict, the Commission, given the context of discussions on diplomatic relations and potential economic benefits, might consider drafting a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, considering the long-term implications of nuclear cooperation that could potentially arise from such talks.
- As the summit in Anchorage unfolds against the backdrop of strategic discussions on global security issues and economic cooperation, the intersection of politics and general news continues to be evident, further highlighting the complex dynamics between the United States and Russia.
