Trump and Putin Meet in Alaska… A Summit on the Edge of War and Peace

ALDAR / Sarah El-Oukili

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Alaska to welcome his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, in their first direct meeting since Trump’s return to the White House, amid high stakes over the possibility of halting the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.

Trump, who describes the conflict as a “bloodbath” with the risk of escalation, made it clear that he wants an immediate ceasefire, warning of severe economic consequences for Moscow if the summit fails. While Ukraine and its allies fear possible concessions to Russia, Trump stressed that he is not negotiating on Kyiv’s behalf but rather seeking to bring all parties to the same table.

The summit, held inside a Cold War-era airbase, could stretch for hours and will address bilateral issues alongside Ukraine. For Putin, this moment offers a chance to show that attempts to isolate Russia have failed. Leaks from the Kremlin suggest he may be open to freezing the conflict in exchange for guarantees against NATO expansion and the lifting of some sanctions.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains adamant about not ceding territory, demanding U.S. security guarantees and declaring that it is time to end the war. Between cautious optimism and power calculations, the Alaska summit stands as a decisive test to see whether the road to peace is still open—or whether the conflict will continue at an even greater cost to all.