Trump and Putin plan to convene in Alaska.
The stage is set for a high-stakes meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, August 15, 2025. The meeting, which will be the first personal meeting between a sitting U.S. President and Putin since the summer of 2021, comes amidst hopes of subsequently arranging a three-way meeting including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The discussions revolve around finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a conflict that began under Putin's leadership in February 2022. Trump has expressed his desire to quickly end the war, but the path to peace is fraught with challenges.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly demanded a conversation with Putin, emphasizing that it is "impossible to solve this without Ukraine." He is firm in his stance that Ukraine will not give up any territory under its control and demands security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression. However, Putin is likely to demand significant territorial concessions while continuing attacks, aiming to portray Ukraine as the obstacle to peace and shift pressure onto Kyiv.
The U.S. is actively working on selecting a suitable site for a potential trilateral meeting, likely by the end of next week. Trump plans to meet Putin first as a "listening exercise" to better understand how to end the war, with a potential quick second meeting involving both Putin and Zelenskyy, or all three with Trump present.
However, concerns among Ukraine's allies are growing. Any deal without Ukraine directly involved risks imposing painful concessions on Kyiv, potentially isolating Ukraine and Europe, and allowing Russia to use economic incentives to divide Western support. Experts caution that Trump needs to adopt a tough stance to avoid rewarding Russian aggression.
As the meeting approaches, the U.S. aims to broker talks but must navigate these fundamental divides to avoid an uneven or damaging deal. Trump has set a deadline of ten days for a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, threatening to impose sanctions on Russia's trading partners if it is not met.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has become the most important ally and arms supplier to Ukraine during Biden's presidency. Trump has significantly cozied up to Moscow during his presidency, but his recent criticism of Putin and the ongoing conflict suggests a shift in his stance.
It remains to be seen whether there will be a meeting between Putin and Zelensky, and whether the talks will lead to a peaceful resolution. One thing is certain: the stakes are high, and the world watches with bated breath as the negotiations unfold.
[1] ABC News. (2025, August 1). Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy to Meet in Anchorage. [online] Available at: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/trump-putin-zelenskyy-meet-anchorage-79284822
[2] The Washington Post. (2025, August 2). Zelenskyy Refuses Territorial Concessions in Ukraine Peace Talks. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/zelenskyy-refuses-territorial-concessions-in-ukraine-peace-talks/2025/08/02/b8b5e34c-548a-4f2d-b699-73738e62d43c_story.html
[3] Reuters. (2025, August 3). U.S. Aims to Gauge Russia's Willingness to Negotiate Peace. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-aims-gauge-russias-willingness-negotiate-peace-2025-08-03/
[4] The New York Times. (2025, August 4). Experts Warn Trump Against Rewarding Russian Aggression. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/04/world/europe/experts-warn-trump-against-rewarding-russian-aggression.html
[1] The ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, a point of contention in general-news, form the core of the upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Anchorage, Alaska.
[2] Amidst the politics surrounding the proposed meeting, experts urge President Trump to adopt a tough stance and not reward Russian aggression, fearing that any deal without direct Ukraine involvement could isolate Ukraine and Europe, potentially shifting power in the conflict.
