Trump-Putin Alaska Summit: Peace or Peril for Ukraine?

U.S. President Donald Trump meets Russian President Vladimir Putin today at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska, in a high-stakes summit aimed at brokering peace in the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its third year. The meeting, the first U.S.-Russia summit since 2021, could reshape the conflict’s trajectory and European security, but it carries significant risks amid deep skepticism and the notable absence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Trump, casting himself as a master negotiator, seeks to deliver on his campaign promise to end the war swiftly, a goal he once claimed could be achieved within 24 hours. He described today’s talks as a “feel-out meeting” to gauge Putin’s willingness to negotiate, while warning of “very severe consequences” if Russia refuses to end hostilities.

Putin, isolated since his 2022 invasion of Ukraine, sees the summit as a chance to legitimize Russia’s territorial gains, block Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, and pull Kyiv back into Moscow’s orbit. The Kremlin’s demands include Ukraine ceding annexed regions like Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea, halting Western arms supplies, and limiting its military mobilization—conditions Kyiv and its allies have rejected outright.

The exclusion of Zelenskyy has sparked alarm, contradicting the West’s “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine” policy. European leaders, in urgent talks with U.S. officials this week, emphasized that peace negotiations must involve Kyiv to be legitimate. Zelenskyy, who spoke with Trump twice recently, insists on robust security guarantees and rejects territorial concessions, stating, “Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier.”

Critics, including former U.S. ambassador Ian Kelly, warn that the summit risks emboldening Putin while pressuring Ukraine into an unfavorable deal. Posts on X reflect similar concerns, with some calling the meeting a “disaster” that could lead to Trump bullying Ukraine into concessions.

Also Read: Trump Threatens Putin with Severe Repercussions if Ukraine War Persists

The summit’s structure includes a one-on-one discussion between Trump and Putin, followed by delegation talks and a “working breakfast,” culminating in a joint press conference. Trump has hinted at a potential follow-up meeting including Zelenskyy, possibly before leaving Alaska, though Russia has not agreed. He has repeatedly suggested “land swaps” as part of a deal, a proposal that has dismayed Ukraine and its allies. In a Fox News radio interview, Trump tempered expectations, saying he aims for a broad peace deal but is unsure about an immediate ceasefire.

Alaska’s choice as the venue carries symbolic weight. Purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million, it lies just 3 miles from Russia at its closest point, separated by the Bering Strait. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, a Cold War stronghold, still intercepts Russian aircraft in U.S. airspace, underscoring its strategic significance. Some, like pro-Kremlin analyst Sergei Markov, view the location as a deliberate distancing from Europe and Ukraine. Others, including former Trump advisor John Bolton, criticize hosting Putin on U.S. soil, likening it to inviting the Taliban to Camp David.

The war has exacted a heavy toll, with over 250,000 Russian and 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed, according to estimates. Ukraine, despite fierce resistance, struggles against Russia’s larger forces along a 1,000-km front line. Trump’s threats of sanctions, including a recent 25% tariff on India for importing Russian oil, signal a tougher stance, but he has paused broader penalties pending the summit’s outcome. Meanwhile, Putin’s escalation of attacks on Ukrainian cities ahead of the meeting has drawn accusations of bad faith.

Global eyes are on Anchorage, with U.S. adversaries like China and Iran watching Trump’s posture for signs of weakness. European allies fear a trans-Atlantic rift, with pro-Kremlin voices in Moscow hoping the summit weakens Europe’s anti-Russia stance. As Trump navigates his transactional diplomacy, the world awaits whether this summit will bring peace closer or deepen divisions.

Also Read: Russia’s Deadly Kyiv Strike Leaves Families Shattered, World on Edge