The Daily Star Ireland
Trump and Putin to Meet in Alaska for High-Stakes Ukraine Talks
US President Donald Trump has announced he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday, August 15, 2025, in Alaska, with the prospect of a potential peace deal for Ukraine that could involve territorial exchanges. The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions.
Putin’s preparations for the summit have included discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since taking office earlier this year, Trump has sought to broker an end to the conflict but has yet to make a breakthrough. Speaking from the White House, he suggested “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both” Ukraine and Russia, though he did not elaborate. The Kremlin has not yet confirmed the date or location of the meeting.
Obstacles to Peace Remain
Three previous rounds of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have failed to yield results. Russian forces continue their bombardment, particularly in eastern and southern Ukraine, while President Putin has so far refused to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—something Kyiv insists is necessary for progress.
Talks held in Istanbul last month highlighted the deep divide between the two sides. Russia demanded Ukraine withdraw from certain territories and give up Western military aid in exchange for halting its offensive. Putin has said he is only willing to meet Zelensky during the “final phase” of negotiations, while Zelensky insists Ukraine must be directly involved in any settlement process.
International Reactions and Diplomatic Moves
Putin’s recent conversation with Xi Jinping included a briefing on discussions with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who visited Moscow earlier this week. According to Chinese state media, Xi expressed support for improved US-Russia relations and a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis. Both Russia and China have strengthened economic, political, and military ties since the war began.
Putin also held talks with Modi after Russia and India jointly condemned new US tariffs targeting India’s oil imports from Russia. Both leaders have floated their own peace initiatives for Ukraine, though neither has gained significant traction.
Situation on the Ground
As diplomatic maneuvers continue, fighting in Ukraine remains intense. Donetsk regional governor Vadym Filashkin has ordered the evacuation of families with children from 19 more villages near the eastern front, where Russian troops are making gains. These communities, home to hundreds of people, lie within roughly 30 kilometers of active combat zones.
If the Alaska meeting goes ahead, it will be the first summit between a sitting US and Russian president since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021, and the first between Trump and Putin since their encounter at the G20 summit in Japan in 2019.
