Anchorage: US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next Friday, marking a significant diplomatic engagement aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump hinted at a potential territorial swap as part of the resolution efforts between Moscow and Kyiv.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Kremlin confirmed the summit, describing the choice of Alaska as “quite logical.” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated that the discussions would focus on finding a long-term peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis. The conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and displaced millions.
Ahead of the summit, Putin consulted with leaders from China and India. Trump, in his first months in office, has been attempting to broker peace in Ukraine without achieving a significant breakthrough. On his Truth Social platform, Trump announced the meeting, emphasizing the importance of the summit’s timing and location.
Despite previous rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine failing, the Alaska meeting offers a new opportunity for dialogue. Russian forces have continued their bombardment of Ukraine, and Putin has resisted calls for a ceasefire from various international actors. Talks last month in Istanbul saw Russia proposing hardline territorial demands, which remain a point of contention.
The upcoming summit will be the first meeting between sitting US and Russian presidents since 2021. Trump and Putin last met in person in 2019 at a G20 summit. The Kremlin has also extended an invitation for Trump to visit Russia, signaling a potential continuation of dialogue between the two leaders.
In related developments, Putin updated China’s President Xi Jinping on discussions with the US special envoy Steve Witkoff. Xi expressed support for a long-term resolution to the conflict. Meanwhile, India and China, both having proposed peace initiatives, have yet to see significant progress.
Despite diplomatic efforts, the situation in Ukraine remains dire. Donetsk governor Vadym Filashkin announced plans to evacuate families from additional villages as Russian forces advance. The upcoming summit in Alaska is seen as a crucial moment in the ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict.