U.S. President Donald Trump announced today that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, August 15, 2025, in Alaska, with the goal of negotiating a ceasefire and seeking an end to the war in Ukraine. This summit will mark the first direct meeting between the two leaders since 2021, and the first held on U.S. soil since 1988.
In his social media announcement, Trump stated there would be “a territorial exchange for the convenience of both,” though he did not provide specific details on how such a plan would be implemented. The proposal has sparked alarm in Kyiv and among European allies, who warn that ceding territory would be unacceptable and a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was blunt in saying that any decision made without Ukraine’s participation will be considered “against peace.”
What does this meeting mean for resolving the conflict in Ukraine?
It could represent an opportunity to achieve a stable ceasefire, but the proposed “territorial exchange”, without Ukraine included in the negotiations, risks turning any agreement into an imposed settlement that undermines the country’s territorial integrity and could delegitimize the peace process.
The announcement of the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska opens a possible path to peace talks, but the proposed conditions and exclusion of Ukraine raise serious doubts about the viability and legitimacy of any agreement.
