A historical summit is set to be held between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Though specifics at the summit just like the time and actual area continue to be unknown, all eyes might be on the talks as world leaders wait to see what, if whatever, may be finished in Putin’s first trip to the U.S. In a decade.
Here’s what we know:
What is Agenda?
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday that Trump will travel to Anchorage on Friday morning for what she described as a “listening workout” with Putin. Trump, who on Monday described the talks as a “sense-out meeting,” has made clear that his chief schedule object might be to determine whether or not a ceasefire in Ukraine is even feasible.
When pressed via reporters this week as to what he especially hopes to reap from the in-person talks with Putin — in particular following reputedly high-quality calls that best resulted in a “frustrated” Trump and continued Russian bombardment in Ukraine — the president became mild on specifics.
Though he advised reporters that he thinks he’ll understand whether or not a ceasefire address Putin is even possible in the first ” minutes.” “I’m not going to make a deal. It’s not up to me to make a deal,” he stated. “I suppose a deal have to be made for each [Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy]. “I’d like to see a ceasefire. I’d want to see the fine deal that might be made for each parties. You know, it takes two to tango,” he added.
Expectations
Trump has raised geopolitical eyebrows during the last week whilst he recommended there might be a land “swap” that Russia and Ukraine would want to comply with. While it stays uncertain which borders he thinks will probable be moved round, specifically which Russian borders he foresees Putin delivering to Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his allies in NATO have made clean any deal cast with out Ukraine will now not be applicable.
Zelenskyy over the weekend reiterated that he cannot unilaterally agree to cede territory illegally occupied by using Russia with out a countrywide referendum underneath Ukraine’s Constitution. “Any choices which might be without Ukraine are on the equal time decisions towards peace,” he brought. “They will not bring whatever. These are dead selections. They will in no way paintings.”
Following a meeting with top EU officers on Monday, chief diplomat for the EU Kaja Kallas instructed Fox News Digital, “Ukraine’s right to exist as a sovereign state is below attack, in addition to the safety of our European continent.” “As some distance as Russia has not agreed to complete and unconditional ceasefire, we have to no longer even speak any concessions,” she said. “It has never labored inside the beyond with Russia, and could no longer paintings with Putin these days. Trump, who’s slated to hold talks with Ukraine and NATO allies on Wednesday, stated he will first call Zelenskyy following his talks with Putin, observed with the aid of calls to European leaders.
French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni meet during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on June 17, 2025. (LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP through Getty Images)
Why Alaska?
Though geographically talking, Anchorage is a close to identical distance from Moscow and Washington, D.C., the president precipitated wonder while he stated Putin had agreed to meet him in Alaska in place of a third-birthday celebration nation, like Switzerland or Hungary, each of which were floated as ability meeting locations.
However, each places held dubious optics, as Switzerland, a member of the International Criminal Court, can be obligated to behave on the 2023 ICC arrest warrant issued towards Putin, and Hungary, though regularly seen as sympathetic to Russia, is a NATO member country. “They probable prevented Europe, because if they protected Europe, then Europe might have demanded that they’re without a doubt on the table,” Dan Hoffman, former CIA Moscow Station Chief, advised Fox News Digital. “Probably your two alternatives had been visit Russia — which Trump would in no way do — or invite him right here.
“It also exposes the assignment that you cannot resolve this without Ukraine and with out Europe,” he delivered. But Alaska additionally has a shared records with the U.S., which Washington purchased from Saint Petersburg — then the capital of Russia — in 1867. Though this shared past changed into championed by using some in Russia and the U.S., just like the Kremlin’s special monetary envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who called it the “best level” for the Putin-Trump talks, others took to social media to suggest it confirmed the precarious nature of sovereign borders.
Zelenskyy’s Role
Zelenskyy does now not appear to had been formally invited to the talks, which the White House on Tuesday showed are the end result of a right away invitation from Putin. “The president is agreeing to this meeting at the request of President Putin,” Leavitt stated Tuesday. “And the purpose of this meeting for the president is to stroll away with a better know-how of how we are able to cease this warfare.”
Zelenskyy is set to hold talks with the U.S. President beforehand of the high-level bilateral assembly on Wednesday alongside different European leaders. Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated he’s open to assembly with Putin at once to stop the conflict, even though Putin has so far refused.
What’s Next?
Trump on Monday stated his goal is that following his meeting with Putin, the Kremlin leader will take a seat down with Zelenskyy to start hashing out terms for a ceasefire — whether or not it consists of him in direct negotiations. “Ultimately, I’m going to put the two of them in a room. I’ll be there, or I might not be there,” Trump said Monday. “And I assume it will get solved.”
Zelenskyy on Tuesday said he additionally discussed the possibility of holding high-degree talks prepared by means of Turkey, which has hosted previous diplomatic negotiations that have did not secure any lasting ceasefire agreements, however have released lots of Ukrainian and Russian prisoners of warfare (POWs).
“We are ready for any format of assembly aimed at stopping the killings and ending the battle,” Zelenksyy said. “President Erdoğan showed his country’s readiness to prepare a summit of the leaders of Ukraine, america, Russia, and Türkiye.” Experts have warned it’s miles too soon to inform what ought to come out of the talks with Putin on Friday.
Conclusion
Trump’s upcoming Alaska summit with Putin is laden with historical symbolism and high stakes—but also notable tensions. On one hand, it represents a rare direct engagement amid the turbulent Ukraine conflict; on the other, it raises serious concerns about whose interests are being prioritized. With Ukraine excluded and talk of territorial concessions on the table, the world will be watching closely to see whether this meeting becomes a turning point toward peace—or devolves into political ambiguity.
