U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska, in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched diplomatic events of the year. The high-profile meeting aims to address the ongoing war in Ukraine, broader security tensions between Moscow and the West, and the possibility of easing certain economic sanctions if progress is made. It will also mark the first U.S., Russia bilateral meeting on American soil in decades.
In the lead-up to the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and several European Union leaders will hold a video conference with Donald Trump to align positions. Their main priorities include securing an immediate ceasefire, ensuring the full restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and guaranteeing Kyiv’s direct participation in any peace framework.
Trump has described the Alaska meeting as an initial “feel-out” session, intended to quickly gauge whether Putin is willing to negotiate in good faith. He has indicated he will know “within minutes” if a deal is possible.
What’s at stake?
The central question remains whether Ukraine will have a direct seat at the table. For European leaders, excluding Zelenskiy would undermine the legitimacy of any agreement and could result in a fragile peace that fails to endure under future political and military pressures.
