Trump and Putin to Meet in Alaska on August 15 Amidst Ukraine Peace Talks

Washington D.C. – United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to hold a meeting on August 15 in Alaska, as announced by Trump himself on his "Truth" account. The highly anticipated summit aims to discuss a potential peace agreement and the cessation of the war in Ukraine.

Preparations and Pre-Summit Engagements

Reports indicate that the meeting has been in preparation for some time. "The New York Times" (NYT) had previously reported on Trump's intention to meet Putin personally. Russia's presidential aide, Yuri Ushakov, confirmed that Russia and the U.S. had agreed to a summit in the coming days, with the location already determined, though details were initially to be provided later.

A significant prelude to this summit was the series of meetings between Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special representative, and Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Their recent meeting, the fifth in the last six months, lasted over two and a half hours and was described by Ushakov as "very useful and constructive". Discussions reportedly covered the Ukraine crisis and the prospects for strategic cooperation between the U.S. and Russia, with "relevant signals" exchanged from both sides. Trump himself stated on "Truth Social" that Witkoff's meeting with Putin yielded "significant progress" and that European allies were informed, with all agreeing that the war "must end". There were suggestions that Witkoff's visit might have been related to a U.S. ultimatum for Russia to agree to a ceasefire by August 8.

Proposed Peace Terms and Ukrainian Reaction

The central agenda of the upcoming meeting revolves around a potential peace deal in Ukraine. President Trump has indicated that a resolution might involve "certain territorial exchange for mutual benefit", suggesting a reciprocal arrangement where "something will be given back, something will be exchanged".

Further details on Russia's proposed terms emerged from Witkoff's meeting with Putin. According to European and Ukrainian officials cited by the Wall Street Journal, Putin presented a ceasefire proposal that would involve a cessation of hostilities in exchange for Russia gaining full control over the Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea regions. This information was reportedly relayed by Witkoff himself during a phone call with European officials. U.S. Secretary of State, Marko Rubio, also emphasized that territorial issues would be "key elements" in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected any notion of territorial concessions. Following the announcement of the Trump-Putin meeting, Zelensky stated on August 9 that "Ukrainians will not give up their land to the occupier". He stressed that Ukraine's territorial integrity, enshrined in its constitution, "must not be a subject of negotiation", and reiterated that "the war cannot end without Ukraine's participation in negotiations". Despite his strong stance, Zelensky acknowledged that Russia appears "more inclined to a ceasefire now" due to ongoing pressure.

Broader Diplomatic Landscape

Beyond the direct Trump-Putin talks, President Trump reportedly plans to hold tripartite negotiations involving himself, Putin, and President Zelensky shortly after their one-on-one discussion. It is noteworthy that European leaders are not expected to be invited to this three-way meeting. While Putin has stated he is "not against meeting Zelensky," he stressed that "certain conditions must be created" for such a meeting. Russia's Yuri Ushakov noted that Moscow is not currently preparing for tripartite talks, characterizing the proposal as originating from Washington and left "completely uncommented" by the Russian side.

This high-stakes meeting follows other significant diplomatic engagements involving President Trump. On August 8, 2025, President Trump hosted separate and then tripartite meetings at the White House with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. This meeting, supported by Donald Trump, aimed to facilitate a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, with peace documents reportedly signed at the White House. Coinciding with these events, Ukrainian President Zelensky and Azerbaijani President Aliyev jointly condemned recent Russian air strikes on an Azerbaijani SOCAR oil depot and a gas compressor station in Ukraine.