President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 to discuss a potential resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine. This comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vehemently stated that any peace agreement made without Ukraine’s involvement would be “dead” and “will never work.”
Trump made the announcement on social media, confirming that the meeting would focus on the future of the war, with speculation that the talks could involve territorial exchanges between Ukraine and Russia. No specific details were provided by Trump, but he suggested that “swapping territories” could be part of any agreement.
Zelenskyy, reacting to the news early on Saturday, emphasized that Ukraine would never surrender its land to Russian occupation. In a social media post, he stated, “Any decision made against or without Ukraine will bring nothing,” calling such decisions “dead.” However, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s readiness to work towards a lasting peace in collaboration with Trump and other international partners.
Some analysts have speculated that Russia may be willing to relinquish areas it controls outside of the four regions it has annexed—Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Yet, the prospect of territorial concessions remains deeply contentious, especially for Ukraine.
The meeting, set to take place before any talks with Zelenskyy, has raised concerns in Europe that Ukraine could be excluded from crucial negotiations. Trump previously made it clear that he would meet Putin even if the Russian president refused to engage with Zelenskyy directly, furthering fears that Ukraine’s interests might be sidelined.
In a bold move, Trump revealed that the meeting would take place on U.S. soil, breaking expectations that the summit would be held in a neutral third country. This decision is seen as an effort to grant Putin legitimacy, following years of efforts by the U.S. and its allies to isolate him due to the invasion of Ukraine.
In comments to reporters, Trump expressed hope for a peaceful resolution, stating, “President Putin, I believe, wants to see peace, and Zelenskyy wants to see peace.” He added, “There’ll be some swapping of territories, to the betterment of both,” while acknowledging that achieving peace would not be easy.
While the situation remains fluid, Trump’s announcement comes after he had previously warned of increased sanctions on Russia unless significant steps were taken towards peace. The U.S. administration had already imposed a 25% tariff on goods from India, citing the country’s continued oil imports from Russia.
As the global diplomatic landscape continues to shift, the upcoming summit in Alaska signals a potential turning point in the war, though significant challenges remain in forging a lasting peace. Zelenskyy’s firm stance on Ukraine’s territorial integrity and Trump’s desire to mediate between the two sides make the stakes for this summit exceptionally high.