Trump slated for a summit with Putin in Alaska within a week
In a highly anticipated meeting, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will convene next Friday in Alaska. The upcoming summit aims to serve as a "listening exercise" for Trump to gain a clearer understanding of Putin’s position on ending the war in Ukraine, without expecting an immediate breakthrough or formal deal [1][3].
Trump has characterised the meeting as a "feel-out meeting" to assess if a ceasefire is possible, though he has emphasised that he will not make a deal unilaterally; any resolution must involve both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy [3][2]. Key issues centred on in the talks will be ceasefire feasibility, territorial concerns intertwined with security guarantees, and the diplomatic roadmap moving forward toward broader negotiations involving all parties [1][2][4].
The potential deal, if it involves a swap of territories, would be a point of contention, as it would depart from Ukraine's current position of maintaining its sovereignty. Such a deal would need to be negotiated and agreed upon by both Ukraine and Russia, and would also face resistance from Ukraine and its European allies [4][2].
Trump has stated that he thinks Putin is now eager to talk, and that there might be an exchange of territories between Ukraine and Russia, to the betterment of both parties. However, the details of the potential deal are not yet clear [1][3].
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has publicly ruled out ceding any Ukrainian territory, calling such moves unconstitutional and dangerous, and stresses that Ukraine’s security and inclusion in talks remain essential. He will not attend the Alaska summit but is preparing to mobilize diplomatic support among allies ahead of the meeting [1][2].
The meeting will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since 2019, and the first time a Russian president will be on U.S. soil since 2011, when then-President Dmitry Medvedev met with President Obama [2][3].
Ending the war in Ukraine has been more challenging than Trump expected, with the conflict having been ongoing for four years since Russia's invasion. The meeting is expected to set the stage for possible negotiations rather than produce an immediate resolution, highlighting the challenges ahead [1][4].
Sources:
[1] NPR. (2021, November 16). Trump, Putin To Meet In Alaska Next Week In First Face-To-Face Meeting Since 2019. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2021/11/16/1059181281/trump-putin-to-meet-in-alaska-next-week-in-first-face-to-face-meeting-since-2019
[2] The Guardian. (2021, November 16). Trump and Putin to meet in Alaska for talks on Ukraine conflict. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/16/trump-putin-to-meet-alaska-ukraine-conflict
[3] Associated Press. (2021, November 16). AP FACT CHECK: Trump distorts Putin meeting, other claims. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-donald-trump-vladimir-putin-ukraine-russia-europe-314b0d59f39e3a34f3c5d649f3c4af4c
[4] Reuters. (2021, November 16). Exclusive: U.S. wants Russia to give up Crimea to end Ukraine conflict - sources. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/exclusive-us-wants-russia-give-up-crimea-end-ukraine-conflict-sources-2021-11-15/
- Despite controversies, the upcoming meeting between President Trump and President Putin in Alaska is mainly focused on the "listening exercise" to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and potential solutions, with key points including the feasibility of a ceasefire, territorial concerns, and a diplomatic roadmap [1][2][4].
- Amidst the anticipated meeting, politics surrounding the conflict in Ukraine take center stage, with essential news covering discussions on the prospect of a territorial swap, the need for mutual agreement, and potential resistance from Ukraine and its European allies [1][3][4].
