US President Donald Trump is in Alaska for a high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US President Donald Trump is in Alaska for a high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He says he won't negotiate on Ukraine's behalf, but he will work to bring about peace there.
Putin will be visiting the West for the first time since the start of the war in February 20222 for the summit, which is scheduled to take place in Anchorage. Trump wants to test Putin's willingness to make concessions, get him to the negotiating table, and threaten dire repercussions if negotiations break down.
On Air Force One, Trump told reporters that his goal is to get Putin to the table, not to strike a deal for Ukraine. He said, “Putin believes that his continuous attacks give him strength in negotiations, but I think that hurts him.”
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He promised to discuss land exchange, but stressed that only Ukraine can decide. He warned that Russia would face serious economic consequences if no agreement were reached.
As Trump headed to Alaska, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged him to convince Russia to end its invasion. Zelensky said, “It is time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia.
We are counting on America.” However, Trump did not invite Zelensky to the meeting and has rejected pressuring Ukraine into surrendering territory.
Trump’s delegation includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
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The talks will take place at Elmendorf Air Force Base at 1900 GMT on Friday. The base, once a Cold War surveillance hub, adds symbolic weight to the summit.
Trump has called this a “feel-out meeting” to gauge Putin’s stance. He said the talks could end within minutes if Putin refuses to compromise. He promised to consult European leaders and Zelensky before any final agreement, which he envisions as a three-way meeting to decide on territorial arrangements. Every word, gesture, and move will be closely monitored by allies and critics alike.
For India, the summit has its implications. Columbia University economist Jeffrey D. Sachs warned India not to be drawn into US-led geopolitical maneuvers, especially amid US tariffs over its purchase of Russian oil. He urged India to stay out of what he called the West’s “misguided trade war with China.”
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The Trump-Putin meeting is as much about optics as outcomes. The symbolism of Alaska — once bought from Russia in 1867 — and the presence of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov wearing a “USSR” sweatshirt add an unusual layer. Whether the meeting delivers peace or collapses in minutes, it will remain a defining moment in this war’s diplomatic history.
