US President Donald Trump announced Friday he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next week in Alaska, aiming to discuss Ukraine’s war. The meeting, set for August 15, 2025, would mark the first US-Russia presidential summit since Geneva in June 2021.
Trump suggested a possible peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv could involve a “swapping of territories,” without offering specific details or conditions. The Kremlin has yet to confirm the date or location, keeping expectations for a breakthrough shrouded in uncertainty and diplomatic caution.
Putin, ahead of the summit, consulted Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the conflict and global tensions. The war, launched by Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has killed tens of thousands and forced millions from their homes.
Three previous rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine collapsed, leaving little optimism for a swift resolution despite mounting international appeals. Putin has rejected calls from Washington, Europe, and Kyiv for a ceasefire, and refuses direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
At last month’s Istanbul talks, Russian negotiators demanded Kyiv withdraw from certain territories and abandon Western military support before halting advances. Xi, according to Chinese state media, voiced support for long-term stability and welcomed ongoing contact between Washington and Moscow over the crisis.
India, balancing ties with Russia and the West, echoed the need for dialogue while rejecting new US tariffs on its Russian oil imports. Zelensky insists Ukraine must be part of any negotiations, warning that exclusion would undermine legitimacy and fairness in any peace framework.
Meanwhile, Donetsk governor Vadym Filashkin announced evacuations from 19 eastern villages as Russian forces press forward along the battle-scarred front line. The Alaska summit may offer history a rare chance, yet the shadows of war will loom heavy over its cold northern stage.
