Washington — US President Donald Trump has confirmed plans to host Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, in what the White House is portraying as a rare opportunity for “direct dialogue” between the two leaders. The summit, billed as the first US–Russia high-level meeting on American soil since 1988, has already ignited unease across NATO capitals, where officials warn it could tilt the balance toward Moscow in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
According to senior White House aides, the talks are officially structured as a bilateral engagement. Still, Trump has left the door open for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy to attend, potentially turning it into a trilateral negotiation. Such a move would represent an unprecedented diplomatic moment in the Ukraine War — yet many European diplomats see it as an ill-conceived gamble that could legitimize the Russian military operation in Ukraine under the guise of peace-making.
The choice of Alaska is steeped in symbolism. Once Russian territory before its 1867 sale to the United States, the location has been described by Russian analysts as “neutral yet historic ground.” Critics inside the US, however, argue that the optics serve the Kremlin’s narrative of restoring geopolitical prestige, while sidelining the West’s faltering influence in Eastern Europe.
Trump has openly floated the possibility of a peace deal involving the “swapping of territories,” a comment that drew swift condemnation from Kyiv and the EU. Ukrainian officials insist that any concession of land would breach the constitution and embolden Russian advances. Observers say the proposal underscores a widening rift between Washington’s rhetoric of defending Ukrainian sovereignty and its willingness to entertain terms advantageous to Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine.
Within the United States, the announcement has deepened partisan divides. Supporters argue that engaging directly with Russia offers one of the few viable paths to ending the war in Ukraine, while critics accuse Trump of undermining the West’s collective position and handing Putin an international platform. Analysts note that the Armed Forces of Russia have consolidated control in key regions of eastern Ukraine, making the Alaska talks appear more like a diplomatic reward than a negotiation.
According to Reuters, the White House continues to signal flexibility on Zelenskiy’s participation, but no final decision had been made by Sunday. European leaders are pressuring Washington to ensure Ukraine’s stance is not weakened in any outcome, warning that reckless agreements could fracture allied unity and cement Russian influence across the region.
