In a much-anticipated meeting, President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin this Friday in Alaska.
Details shared by the Kremlin indicate that the summit will occur at the US Air Force’s Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.
Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed on Thursday that the summit program has been finalized.
The meeting will begin with a one-on-one conversation between the two leaders, accompanied by interpreters, at 9:30 PM CEST.
Following this initial discussion, a working breakfast will take place, with its duration dependent on the outcome of the one-on-one talks.
After the breakfast, conversations will expand to include larger delegations from both sides.
The Russian delegation will feature key figures such as Ushakov, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Kirill Dmitriev from the Russian Direct Investment Fund.
However, the specifics of the US delegation have not yet been disclosed.
Notably absent from the Russian delegation is Vladimir Medinsky, Putin’s presidential aide, who has been leading discussions with Ukraine in Istanbul.
His exclusion highlights the Kremlin’s stance regarding the ongoing Istanbul talks, suggesting a lack of interest in direct dialogue with Ukraine.
The primary focus of the bilateral summit is expected to be the settlement of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, according to Ushakov.
In addition to the situation in Ukraine, discussions are also slated to cover topics related to economic cooperation and global security.
Ushakov emphasized the symbolic significance of the summit’s location, stating that it takes place “near the graves of Soviet pilots in Alaska.”
Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation has raised concerns that Putin might present distorted historical narratives during his meeting with Trump.
These materials could include geographical maps aimed at pushing the false claim that Ukraine is an “artificial state.”
This narrative has frequently been used by Putin to rationalize his invasion of Ukraine.
In a pre-summit comment, President Trump chose to downplay the importance of the meeting, framing it as merely a precursor to a potential second meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin.
Trump asserted that a successful initial meeting could lead to discussions between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the near future.
He mentioned that should the Alaska meeting fail to yield positive outcomes in terms of Russia’s willingness to end its war, the Kremlin could face severe consequences.
When asked if he believed he could persuade Putin to stop targeting civilians in Ukraine, Trump admitted, “I guess the answer to that is no, because I’ve had this conversation.”
President Zelenskyy has expressed hopes that the main agenda of the upcoming meeting will focus on an immediate ceasefire.
He referenced ongoing communications with President Trump, who indicated they would follow up after the Alaska meeting to evaluate any results and determine subsequent steps.
Zelenskyy’s recent travels included meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, followed by talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, where they discussed potential security guarantees for Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president emphasized the importance of US involvement in urging Russia to halt its assaults and engage in meaningful diplomatic negotiations.
image source from：euronews
