- Trump and Putin will meet in Alaska on August 15 — their first face-to-face since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- Kremlin resists a three-way meeting with Zelenskyy unless Ukraine concedes Donetsk and Luhansk, which Zelenskyy rejects.
- Trump stays cautiously hopeful about talks but admits he’s been disappointed by Putin before.
Next Friday, August 15, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold their first in-person meeting since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Trump confirmed the Alaska summit in a Truth Social post, calling it “highly anticipated” and promising more details soon. The meeting location had been debated for weeks after a Wednesday phone call between the two leaders, following U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s trip to Moscow. Several countries, including Hungary and Switzerland, were considered, but Putin favored Hungary initially before rejecting Italy over its ties to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Tricky Road to a Trilateral Meeting
After speaking with Putin, Trump also reached out to Zelenskyy and European leaders about a potential trilateral meeting. However, Moscow has repeatedly resisted direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy. Kremlin advisors admitted the idea was “mentioned” but not truly discussed. Some reports claim Putin might agree if Ukraine conceded the disputed Donetsk and Luhansk regions — territories annexed in 2022 but not fully under Russian control. Zelenskyy has rejected such conditions, pointing to Ukraine’s constitution, which requires a national referendum for any territorial changes.
Hurdles, Hopes, and Diplomacy in Motion
Trump told reporters Wednesday he was optimistic there’s “a very good prospect” for Putin and Zelenskyy to meet, even if initial talks are just between the U.S. and Russia. Zelenskyy hinted a U.S.-Russia meeting could be followed by a three-way discussion. Despite optimism, Trump’s past frustrations with Putin linger, noting, “I’ve been disappointed before with this one.” Still, the Alaska meeting signals a potential step toward renewed diplomacy in a deeply fractured conflict.
