Trump, Putin Meet in Alaska for High-Stakes Summit on Ukraine War
The U.S President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have convened in Alaska for a high-profile summit aimed at seeking an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war.
The meeting, taking place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, marks the first time a sitting Russian leader has visited U.S. soil since 2007 and the first U.S.-hosted summit between both nations in nearly two decades. The talks are seen as a critical diplomatic moment with the potential to reshape the trajectory of the conflict and the broader European security landscape.
Speaking before the closed-door session, President Trump said his priority was to halt hostilities “today” and bring an end to the loss of lives in Ukraine. While maintaining that Kyiv should determine the future of its territories, he suggested the United States could back security guarantees for Ukraine outside of NATO membership — a possible compromise intended to ease Russian concerns over Western military expansion.
President Putin is expected to push for the recognition of Russia’s territorial gains in eastern Ukraine and firm commitments to limit NATO’s presence near Russia’s borders. Analysts say the Kremlin views the summit as an opportunity to reassert Moscow’s geopolitical influence after years of strained relations with Washington.
The meeting, initially scheduled as a one-on-one session, now includes senior officials from both sides. On the U.S. delegation are Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Conspicuously absent from the talks is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose exclusion has sparked criticism from Kyiv and several European capitals. Critics argue that any agreement reached without Ukraine’s direct involvement risks undermining the principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”
Trump has indicated he may invite Zelenskyy to a subsequent trilateral meeting if progress is made in Anchorage.
The summit has drawn global attention not only for its historic nature but also for its potential to alter the course of the 18-month-old conflict. Supporters see it as a bold bid for peace, while skeptics caution that the lack of Ukrainian participation and the contrasting objectives of both leaders could limit meaningful outcomes.
For Trump, the talks present an opportunity to cement his image as a global dealmaker an image he has linked to the possibility of winning a Nobel Peace Prize if the summit yields a breakthrough. For Putin, the gathering offers a platform to project strength abroad and negotiate from a position of perceived advantage.
