President Donald Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin are set to hold a significant meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, aimed at finding common ground to establish a lasting ceasefire in Russia’s protracted war on Ukraine, which has now reached its third year.
This long-anticipated meeting represents another attempt by Trump, who promised during his campaign to resolve the conflict swiftly, to broker peace amidst ongoing hostilities.
Notably, this will be the first time in a decade that Putin has stepped foot on US soil and marks the inaugural visit of a Russian leader to Alaska.
Despite attempts to temper expectations about the summit, Trump issued a warning that there would be “serious consequences” for Russia if a ceasefire is not agreed upon.
**Meeting Details**
The critical discussions are scheduled to take place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, around 11:30 am Alaska time (19:30 GMT).
The Russian delegation includes notable figures such as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defence Minister Andrei Belousov. The details of Trump’s accompanying officials have not yet been disclosed.
**Absence of Zelenskyy and European Leaders**
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not be in attendance, nor will there be any European leaders at the meeting.
In a briefing on August 11, Trump criticized Zelenskyy, arguing that Ukraine’s president had not made enough progress in three years of governance to warrant his presence at the discussions.
Analyst Neil Melvin from the Royal United Services Institute noted that European leaders find themselves sidelined from a dialogue that could significantly impact their future, exacerbated by the perception of the European Union’s diminished influence in the eyes of Trump and Putin.
Ahead of the Alaska summit, Trump, accompanied by Vice President JD Vance, conducted a virtual meeting with Zelenskyy and other European counterparts in a last-ditch effort to align perspectives before the key in-person discussions.
Zelenskyy joined the virtual session from Berlin, where other leaders from Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Finland, and Poland also participated, alongside European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen and NATO chief Mark Rutte.
**Significance of Alaska as the Venue**
Alaska, which is geographically positioned nearer to Russia than to the US mainland, is a historically and strategically significant locale for this meeting.
Once colonized by the Russian empire, the United States acquired Alaska in 1867 for $7.2 million, a sum that would equal approximately $162 million today.
The presence of Russian Orthodox churches and traditional names among Alaskans serves as a reminder of the region’s historical connections to Russia.
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson itself holds historical importance as a military installation. Originally established as an air force base during World War II, it expanded during the Cold War due to concerns over potential Soviet aggression.
The base remains equipped to respond to any threats from Russian aircraft encroaching on US airspace. Nonetheless, the rationale for selecting Alaska as the meeting venue has not been publicly detailed by US officials.
**Agenda for Discussion**
The key subject matter for Trump and Putin will revolve around establishing the framework for a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
They are expected to delve into potential terms for such an arrangement, including possible territorial alterations on either side.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces have taken control of around 19 percent of Ukrainian territory across regions like Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhia, among others.
A discussion of territorial exchanges has emerged, as suggested by Trump in earlier public comments regarding a potential land deal between the two nations.
However, he later retracted this suggestion amid discontent expressed by various European leaders and reiterated his commitment to reclaiming Ukrainian territory from Russian control.
**Territorial Swaps on the Table**
Analysts posit that any negotiations surrounding territorial adjustments will likely involve Russia demanding Ukraine to cede portions of the Donetsk region.
This would give Russia complete control over the strategically important Donbas region, which includes Luhansk and parts of Donetsk, along with Crimea and portions of southern Ukraine.
In exchange, Russia might consider relinquishing small areas in the regions of Sumy and Kharkiv currently under its control.
Moscow’s occupation of Crimea has been contentious since March 2014, along with ongoing conflicts instigated by pro-Russian militias in the Donbas starting in April of the same year.
**Expectations from the Summit**
President Trump, reflecting on the summit, characterized it as a “feel-type” conversation aiming to gauge Putin’s desires.
He anticipates the possibility of a subsequent meeting that could include Zelenskyy and serve to further diplomatic discussions surrounding the conflict.
Nevertheless, Trump has opted for a sterner approach as the meeting approaches, warning of “very severe consequences” for Russia if tangible steps towards peace are not established.
While the nature of the US response remains unspecified, Trump had previously indicated the possibility of implementing economic sanctions if Russia continues its efforts in Ukraine.
At present, Russia is already facing considerable sanctions from the West, which encompass bans on its financial institutions and oil exports.
In recent developments, the US has taken measures against India, imposing tariffs for purchasing Russian oil and hinting at further sanctions if Friday’s discussions do not yield positive outcomes.
**Russia’s Proposals**
In preparation for the talks, Russia put forth a proposal to the US on August 6, outlining several key demands in alignment with its goals from June 2024.
Moscow has signaled its willingness to halt military actions if Ukraine agrees to abandon its NATO aspirations and demilitarizes significantly.
Additionally, Russia seeks a complete withdrawal from the Donbas region coupled with the cessation of advances on Kherson and Zaporizhia, alongside returning a few small occupied territories in Sumy and Kharkiv.
Russian officials suggested that any steps towards peace would not only aim at ending the conflict but would also serve as a foundation for improving US-Russian relations.
**Ukraine and Europe’s Stance**
Ukraine under Zelenskyy has firmly maintained that ceding any territory is not an option.
Echoing this sentiment on August 9, Zelenskyy stressed that it is against Ukrainian law to “gift land to the occupier.”
European leaders have expressed apprehension about the outcomes of the Trump-Putin meeting, urging that no territorial agreements be reached without direct involvement from Ukraine.
Leading figures such as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer articulated the necessity for credible security guarantees for Ukraine as a precondition for any peace agreement.
Zelenskyy has emphasized the importance of retaining Ukraine’s rights to pursue NATO membership and called for an intensification of sanctions against Russia if an agreement is not met.
**Potential Outcomes**
While some analysts remain optimistic about the prospects for a preliminary peace agreement resulting from the discussions, uncertainty looms over Ukraine’s acceptance of any conditions that might emerge from the talks.
Conversely, skeptics believe that this meeting serves primarily as a tactic for Russia to delay necessary sanctions from the US, allowing Moscow to maintain its military advances in Ukraine.
Melvin of RUSI asserted that Russia, believing it has the upper hand, is intent on stalling US initiatives that could impose further pressure on its military strategies.
As the clock ticks down to the Alaska summit, there lies the paradox of hope for peace against the backdrop of undeniable tensions that persist between the two nations.
image source from：aljazeera
