President Donald Trump is gearing up for a high-stakes face-off with Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, to tackle the Russia-Ukraine war head-on.
Fox News reported that on Friday, Trump will meet Putin in a historic summit, the first of its kind since June 2021, aiming to explore a ceasefire in a conflict that’s dragged on far too long.
The choice of Anchorage, roughly equidistant from Washington and Moscow, nods to history—America bought Alaska from Russia in 1867.
This meeting, initiated at Putin’s request, signals a rare chance to shift gears in a war that’s bled both nations dry.
Trump’s calling this a “feel-out meeting,” banking on his gut to gauge Putin’s sincerity within the first two minutes. That’s classic Trump—bold, brash, and betting on his instincts over diplomatic dawdling. But with a 25% chance of failure, as he admitted on Aug. 14, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
“I’d like to see a ceasefire,” Trump declared, emphasizing a deal that works for both Russia and Ukraine. His vision of a fair bargain sounds noble, but the devil’s in the details—especially when Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy isn’t even at the table. This summit’s more about sizing up Putin than signing papers.
Zelenskyy, for his part, isn’t holding his breath. “At present, there is no sign that the Russians are preparing to end the war,” he said on Aug. 13.
His skepticism is warranted—past talks, like those hosted by Turkey, fizzled out despite facilitating prisoner swaps.
Trump’s not naive about the challenge, warning of “very severe consequences” if Putin stonewalls on ending the war. That’s a not-so-subtle jab at Russia’s aggression, paired with a flex of American muscle—two nuclear submarines were recently ordered closer to Russia after provocative Kremlin rhetoric.
Yet, Trump insists this isn’t a reward for Putin’s invasion, despite critics’ murmurs. “No. I don’t think it’s a reward,” Trump snapped when asked if the summit legitimizes Putin’s actions.
He’s quick to pin the war’s origins on the Biden administration, claiming it “would have never happened” under his watch. While that’s a convenient talking point, it sidesteps the messy reality that “everybody’s to blame” for the conflict’s escalation.
Putin, surprisingly, has praised Trump’s push for peace as “sincere” and “energetic.” That’s high praise from a man not known for warm fuzzies, but it’s also a calculated nod to keep the door open for talks. The Russian leader even dangled the prospect of future arms control agreements, with the New START treaty’s 1,550-warhead cap set to expire in 2026.
The White House sees this as a chance to cut through the fog of war. “The goal of this meeting for the president is to walk away with a better understanding of how we can end this war,” said press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Her words frame the summit as a pragmatic step, not a grand gesture, in a world weary of endless conflict.
Zelenskyy’s absence from Anchorage looms large, and he’s made it clear that sidelining Ukraine won’t fly. “Any decisions made without Ukraine are simultaneously decisions against peace,” he warned. His insistence on inclusion underscores a truth: no deal sticks if Kyiv’s left out in the cold.
Trump’s already eyeing a second meeting, one that would rope in Zelenskyy and possibly European leaders for meatier negotiations.
“This meeting sets up the second meeting,” he told Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade, hinting at land swaps—a proposal Zelenskyy has firmly rejected. That disconnect could spell trouble down the road.
Zelenskyy’s pushing for a broader approach, suggesting Turkey could host high-level talks to hammer out a real ceasefire. “The path to peace for Ukraine must be determined together with Ukraine,” he stressed. It’s a polite but pointed reminder that Ukraine won’t be a pawn in great-power games.
Trump’s optimism—“I think President Putin will make peace”—clashes with Zelenskyy’s grim assessment of Russia’s intentions.
The Ukrainian leader’s call for “coordinated efforts” with the U.S. and Europe to pressure Russia reflects a hard-earned realism. After years of war, trust in Moscow’s goodwill is in short supply.
The summit’s outcome hinges on whether Trump can turn his deal-making bravado into diplomatic progress. “It takes two to tango,” he quipped, acknowledging that both sides need to budge for a ceasefire to stick. But with Putin’s track record and Zelenskyy’s red lines, that dance floor looks mighty slippery.
