Trump to Meet Putin in Alaska to Discuss Ukraine War Ceasefire

International News: U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next Friday to discuss steps toward ending the war in Ukraine. Sharing the update on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said that all parties—including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—are close to reaching a ceasefire agreement to resolve the conflict that has stretched on for over three years.

Speaking to reporters at the White House earlier on Friday, Trump hinted that the potential deal could involve territorial exchanges. “Some areas would be swapped for a better future,” he remarked, without disclosing specifics.

Peace Terms Still Far Apart

The Kremlin has yet to confirm Trump’s announcement. However, both Moscow and Kyiv had earlier expressed hope that such a meeting could take place next week. While the proposed summit could mark a significant moment in the war, deep differences remain between the two sides over the terms of peace, leaving uncertainty over whether fighting will actually stop.

Territorial Swap on the Table

Trump suggested that any agreement might involve swapping certain territories, though details remain unclear. Kremlin-linked analysts have speculated that Russia might be willing to relinquish some areas outside the four regions it claims to have annexed.

Concerns Over Bypassing Ukraine

Trump has previously signaled that his talks with Putin might occur before involving President Zelensky, raising fears in Europe that Ukraine could be sidelined in negotiations aimed at ending the continent’s most significant conflict since World War II. Reports indicate that Trump had agreed to meet Putin even if the Russian leader refused to sit down with Zelensky.

Meeting Planned on U.S. Soil

By choosing Alaska as the venue, Trump has dismissed earlier speculation that the summit would take place in a neutral third country. The decision also signals a notable shift, as U.S. allies have long sought to isolate Putin over his military actions in Ukraine.

Historical Context

In the early years of his presidency, Putin met regularly with U.S. leaders. However, relations soured after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and allegations of interference in the 2016 U.S. elections. Putin’s most recent trip to the United States was in 2015, when he attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York. If the planned Alaska summit goes ahead, it will mark the first high-level U.S.–Russia meeting since 2021, when then-President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva.