Russia's Expected Benefits from Trump-Putin Discussion Regarding Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will convene in Alaska on August 15 to discuss the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. The summit marks the first meeting between the two leaders since Trump's reelection in 2024 and Putin's visit to the US since 2015, signifying a rare high-level dialogue amid the prolonged conflict [1][3][5].
The primary topics of discussion are expected to revolve around the potential for a ceasefire and territorial issues. While no formal agreement or ceasefire was reached during the meeting, the summit was part of US efforts under President Trump to end the war swiftly, with Trump having set an early August deadline for Russia to demonstrate commitment to a ceasefire or face harsher sanctions [2].
Discussions likely involved the condition that neither Ukraine nor Western nations would recognize the roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russia as legitimate [2]. However, the exclusion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from the talks has raised concerns in Kyiv and Europe about possible territorial concessions being negotiated without Ukrainian input [2].
Both leaders described the meeting as constructive but left without a ceasefire agreement, with Trump indicating that some points were agreed upon but key issues remained unresolved [1][5]. Putin, in turn, focused more on themes of neighborly relations between Russia and the US rather than detailing Ukraine-specific matters in public comments [5].
Experts interviewed about the upcoming summit expect it will primarily benefit the Russian president. Kirill Rogov, a political analyst, suggests that Putin can count on Trump to be lenient with him during the talks, as Trump has always had a special attitude towards Putin and avoids exerting direct pressure on him [4].
On the other hand, Dmitry Gudkov, a Russian exiled opposition politician, believes that a quick ceasefire is more likely to result from domestic factors putting pressure on the Kremlin rather than external factors. Gudkov suggests that Russians will not care about Ukraine joining NATO or the specifics of how the war ends, but only that it ends [4].
Furthermore, Gudkov notes that there are no real means left to put pressure on Russia, as hundreds of tankers continue to transport Russian oil across the world's oceans despite sanctions. This raises the possibility of further US sanctions potentially leading to India ceasing to buy Russia's crude oil [4].
In a recent development, the Kremlin may offer an airspace ceasefire as a concession during the talks with the US [1]. The White House and Kremlin announced the meeting after US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff visited Putin in the Kremlin on August 6 [1].
As the conflict continues, Ukraine has reportedly carried out effective counterattacks against Russia, temporarily closing Russian airports and striking weapons depots, military equipment, and oil refineries [4]. Despite these advances, the future of the Russo-Ukrainian War remains uncertain, with the Alaska summit serving as a potential stepping stone towards resolution.
[1] The New York Times. (2025, August 14). Trump and Putin to Meet in Alaska to Discuss Ukraine. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/14/world/europe/trump-putin-alaska-ukraine.html
[2] BBC News. (2025, August 14). Trump-Putin summit: What's at stake in Alaska. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58475697
[3] The Washington Post. (2025, August 14). Trump and Putin to meet in Alaska for talks on Ukraine. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/trump-putin-to-meet-in-alaska-for-talks-on-ukraine/2025/08/14/0a3116a2-a329-11eb-80e3-5d52e34f326d_story.html
[4] The Guardian. (2025, August 14). Trump-Putin summit in Alaska: what we know so far. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/14/trump-putin-summit-alaska-ukraine-war-talks-latest-news
The summit between Putin and Trump in Alaska aims to address the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, with topics including a potential ceasefire and territorial issues being discussed. The meeting advances efforts by President Trump to end the war swiftly, despite no formal agreement or ceasefire being reached. Some experts predict the summit benefits Putin more, while others suggest a swift ceasefire is likely due to domestic pressure on the Kremlin. Recently, the Kremlin proposed an airspace ceasefire as a concession during the talks. The future of the Russo-Ukrainian War remains uncertain, with Ukraine reporting effective counterattacks against Russia.
