Trump, Putin to meet in Alaska to discuss Ukraine peace prospects
The Kremlin has not yet confirmed the details, but both governments had recently indicated that a meeting was likely. Trump's decision to host Putin on U.S. soil, rather than in a neutral country, represents a notable diplomatic shift, offering the Russian leader visibility that the U.S. and its allies have tried to deny since his 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The conflict, now in its fourth year, has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and left Ukrainian cities in ruins. Despite Western military aid and sanctions on Moscow, Russia's larger forces have made incremental gains, particularly around Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region.
Trump said the Alaska talks would come before any meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, even if Putin refused to engage with him — a stance that has raised concern in Europe about Ukraine's role in negotiations. He hinted a peace deal could involve a "swapping of territories" but offered no specifics. Analysts speculate Russia might give up areas outside the four regions it claims to have annexed, though Kyiv insists it will not cede land.
"I believe President Putin wants to see peace, and Zelenskyy wants to see peace," Trump told reporters, adding that Ukraine is "getting everything it needs" if an agreement is possible. While rejecting the term "last chance" for peace, he noted that once fighting intensifies, "it's awfully tough to get 'em to stop."
Scheduled for August 15, the meeting will be the first U.S.–Russia summit since President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in 2021. Putin last visited the U.S. in 2015 for the U.N. General Assembly. Relations have soured sharply since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, was accused of interfering in the 2016 U.S. elections, and launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Trump suggested the summit had been delayed by security arrangements but claimed it could lead to progress, similar to his recent mediation efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Two weeks ago, frustrated by continued Russian strikes, he advanced an ultimatum: more sanctions on Moscow and secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil unless movement toward a settlement occurred.
Meanwhile, Putin has been speaking with key allies, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as leaders of South Africa, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. Kremlin analyst Sergei Markov suggested this outreach might signal groundwork for a potential deal.
Still, significant obstacles remain. Ukraine faces manpower shortages along its 1,000-kilometer front line, while Russia continues its costly offensive without signs of scaling back its ambitions. Whether Anchorage produces a breakthrough or another symbolic exchange will become clear only after the two leaders meet.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
Melania Trump threatens to sue Hunter Biden over ‘salacious' comments
First lady Melania Trump demanded that Hunter Biden retract comments linking her to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and threatened to sue if he does not. Trump takes issue with two comments Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, made in an interview this month with American journalist Andrew Callaghan. He alleged that Epstein introduced the first lady to now-President Donald Trump. View image in full screen US President Donald Trump (L) and First Lady Melania Trump arrive to attend the opening night of 'Les Misérables' at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on June 11, 2025. ALEX WROBLEWSKI / Getty Images) The statements are false, defamatory and 'extremely salacious,' Melania Trump's lawyer, Alejandro Brito, wrote in a letter to Biden. Biden's remarks were widely disseminated on social media and reported by media outlets around the world, causing the first lady 'to suffer overwhelming financial and reputational harm,' he wrote. Story continues below advertisement Biden made the Epstein comments during a sprawling interview in which he lashed out at 'elites' and others in the Democratic Party he says undermined his father before he dropped out of last year's presidential campaign. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Epstein introduced Melania to Trump. The connections are, like, so wide and deep,' Biden said in one of the comments Trump disputes. Biden attributed the claim to author Michael Wolff, whom Trump disparaged in June as a 'Third Rate Reporter.' He has accused Wolff of making up stories to sell books. The first lady's threats echo a favoured strategy of her husband, who has aggressively used litigation to go after critics. Public figures like the Trumps face a high bar to succeed in a defamation lawsuit. The president and first lady have long said they were introduced by Paolo Zampolli, a modeling agent, at a New York Fashion Week party in 1998. Story continues below advertisement The letter is dated Aug. 6 and was first reported Wednesday by Fox News Digital. Abbe Lowell, a lawyer who has represented Biden in his criminal cases and to whom Brito's letter is addressed, did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Wednesday.
Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
Trump's meeting with Putin could determine the trajectory of the Russia-Ukraine war
Published Aug 15, 2025 • 5 minute read President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, en route to a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Photo by Luis M. Alvarez / AP ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump is meeting face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday for a high-stakes summit that could determine not only the trajectory of the war in Ukraine but also the fate of European security. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The sit-down offers Trump a chance to prove to the world that he is both a master dealmaker and a global peacemaker. He and his allies have cast him as a heavyweight negotiator who can find a way to bring the slaughter to a close, something he used to boast he could do quickly. For Putin, a summit with Trump offers a long-sought opportunity to try to negotiate a deal that would cement Russia's gains, block Kyiv's bid to join the NATO military alliance and eventually pull Ukraine back into Moscow's orbit. There are significant risks for Trump. By bringing Putin onto U.S. soil, the president is giving Russia's leader the validation he desires after his ostracization following his invasion of Ukraine 3 1/2 years ago. The exclusion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from the summit also deals a heavy blow to the West's policy of 'nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine' and invites the possibility that Trump could agree to a deal that Ukraine does not want. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Any success is far from assured, especially as Russia and Ukraine remain far apart in their demands for peace. Putin has long resisted any temporary ceasefire, linking it to a halt in Western arms supplies and a freeze on Ukraine's mobilization efforts, which were conditions rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies. 'HIGH STAKES!!!' Trump posted on Truth Social as his motorcade idled outside the White House shortly after sunrise in Washington. An hour later, he waved as he boarded Air Force One but did not speak to reporters. Trump on Thursday said there was a 25% chance that the summit would fail, but he also floated the idea that if the meeting succeeds he could bring Zelenskyy to Alaska for a subsequent, three-way meeting, a possibility that Russia hasn't agreed to. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. When asked in Anchorage about Trump's estimate of a 25% chance of failure, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters that Russia 'never plans ahead.' 'We know that we have arguments, a clear, understandable position. We will state it,' he said in footage posted to the Russian Foreign Ministry's Telegram channel. Trump said in a Fox News radio interview Thursday that he didn't know if they would get 'an immediate ceasefire' but he wanted a broad peace deal done quickly. That seemingly echoes Putin's longtime argument that Russia favours a comprehensive deal to end the fighting, reflecting its demands, not a temporary halt to hostilities. The Kremlin said Trump and Putin will first sit down for a one-on-one discussion, followed by the two delegations meeting and talks continuing over 'a working breakfast.' They are then expected to hold a joint press conference. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In the days leading up to the summit, set for a military base near Anchorage, Trump described it as ' really a feel-out meeting.' But he's also warned of 'very severe consequences' for Russia if Putin doesn't agree to end the war and said that though Putin might bully other leaders, 'He's not going to mess around with me.' Trump said Friday his talks with Putin will include Russian demands that Ukraine cede territory as part of a peace deal. He said Ukraine has to decide, but he also suggested Zelenskyy should accept concessions. 'I've got to let Ukraine make that decision. And I think they'll make a proper decision,' Trump told reporters traveling with him to Alaska. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trump said there's 'a possibility' of the United States offering Ukraine security guarantees alongside European powers, 'but not in the form of NATO.' Putin has fiercely resisted Ukraine joining the trans-Atlantic security alliance, a long-term goal for Ukrainians seeking to forge stronger ties with the West. Zelenskyy has time and again cast doubts on Putin's willingness to negotiate in good faith. His European allies, who've held increasingly urgent meetings with U.S. leaders over the past week, have stressed the need for Ukraine to be involved in any peace talks. Political commentators in Moscow, meanwhile, have relished that the summit leaves Ukraine and its European allies on the sidelines. Dmitry Suslov, a pro-Kremlin voice, expressed hope that the summit will 'deepen a trans-Atlantic rift and weaken Europe's position as the toughest enemy of Russia.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. On his way to Anchorage Thursday, Putin arrived in Magadan in Russia's Far East, according to Russian state news agency Interfax. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the visit would include meetings with the regional governor and stops at several key sites, including a stop to lay flowers at a WWII-era memorial honoring Soviet-American aviation cooperation. Foreign governments will be watching closely to see how Trump reacts to Putin, likely gauging what the interaction might mean for their own dealings with the U.S. president, who has eschewed traditional diplomacy for his own transactional approach to relationships. The meeting comes as the war has caused heavy losses on both sides and drained resources. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Ukraine has held on far longer than some initially expected since the February 2022 invasion, but it is straining to hold off Russia's much larger army, grappling with bombardments of its cities and fighting for every inch on the over 600-mile (1,000-kilometre) front line. Andrea Kendall-Taylor, a senior fellow and director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, said U.S. antagonists like China, Iran and North Korea will be paying attention to Trump's posture to see 'whether or not the threats that he continues to make against Putin are indeed credible.' 'Or, if has been the past track record, he continues to back down and look for ways to wiggle out of the kind of threats and pressure he has promised to apply,' said Kendall-Taylor, who is also a former senior intelligence officer. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. While some have objected to the location of the summit, Trump has said he thought it was 'very respectful' of Putin to come to the U.S. instead of a meeting in Russia. Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin Moscow-based analyst, observed that the choice of Alaska as the summit's venue 'underlined the distancing from Europe and Ukraine.' Being on a military base allows the leaders to avoid protests and meet more securely, but the location carries its own significance because of its history and location. Alaska, which the U.S. purchased from Russia in 1867, is separated from Russia at its closest point by just 3 miles (less than 5 kilometres) and the international date line. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson was crucial to countering the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It continues to play a role today, as planes from the base still intercept Russian aircraft that regularly fly into U.S. airspace. Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA Canada Toronto & GTA
National Observer
an hour ago
- National Observer
Ottawa expresses its resolve for Ukraine as Trump-Putin talks underway in Alaska
Prime Minister Mark Carney 's government says Canada's support for Ukraine is resolute ahead of talks today between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has arranged the talks in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss a possible land swap between territories held by Ukraine and those claimed by Russia, despite not including Kyiv in the talks. The Kremlin says the talks are set to start this morning at 11:30 local time, which is 3:30 p.m. ET. Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters that Trump and Putin will first sit down for a one-on-one meeting followed by a meeting between the two delegations. Then talks will continue over "a working breakfast." A joint news conference will follow, Ushakov said, though Trump later said no decisions have been made about holding a news conference with Putin. Trump said Thursday there was a 25 per cent chance that today's summit would fail, but he also floated the idea that, if the meeting succeeds, he could bring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Alaska for a subsequent, three-way meeting. Trump warned Wednesday of "very severe consequences" for Russia if Putin doesn't agree to stop his invasion of Ukraine after today's meeting, and also said Thursday he might be willing to stay in Alaska beyond Friday, depending on what happens with Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov tamped down expectations for any breakthroughs from the Friday summit, saying there were no plans to sign documents and that it would be a "big mistake" to predict the results of the negotiations, according to Russian news outlet Interfax. Both Zelenskyy and the Europeans have worried that the bilateral US-Russia summit would leave them and their interests sidelined, and that any conclusions could favour Moscow and leave Ukraine and Europe's future security in jeopardy by emboldening Russia to pursue more invasions. Prime Minister Mark Carney took part in talks Wednesday with European leaders, and spoke directly with Zelenskyy on Monday. He said Canada's partners are "united on shared principles," particularly that Ukrainians must decide on their own future. "Diplomatic efforts must be reinforced by military and economic pressure on Russia to end its unjustified war of aggression," Carney wrote Monday on social media. "We welcome the leadership of the United States in working toward securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine." Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand spoke with her Ukrainian counterpart Thursday, and said borders can't be changed by violence. "We will continue to support Ukraine through diplomatic measures, military assistance and economic aid to hold Russia accountable for its illegal war," she wrote on social media, adding that Canada's support is "unwavering." Analysts say western solidarity with Ukraine is crucial, as Putin seeks to break the resolve that NATO alliance members have shown. Eitvydas Bajarunas, a former Lithuanian ambassador to Russia, told an online panel Thursday that the best thing countries like Canada can do is show unwavering commitment, because Moscow is betting western allies will eventually splinter. "Putin (has) understood his strength is to outsmart the West, to outmanoeuvre the West, to wait until the West starts to crumble," Bajarunas told the Center for European Policy Analysis think tank. "One of the goals of Putin is definitely to put a wedge into American-European relations, and to use all methods, including hybrid warfare and disinformation, to manipulate public opinion." Olga Tokariuk, a Kyiv-based fellow with that think tank, told the panel that an optimal scenario for Ukraine would be if Moscow and Washington have no agreement Friday, "if there is like no pressure in Ukraine to make any territorial concessions." Even better for Ukraine would be fresh US sanctions on Russia, if Trump feels Putin is stalling, she said. "This war is not about territories of Ukraine. Russia has vast territories of its own," she said. "This war is about that destruction of Ukraine as a sovereign and independent state, as a state aligned with the West, as a democracy." In recent days, Putin has expanded the scope of what the talks involve, including themes like nuclear arms control and "long-term conditions of peace between our countries, and in Europe, and in the world as a whole." Jason Israel, a former adviser with the US National Security Council, said Moscow is trying to paint Russia and the US as influential countries that have restored relations after years of diplomatic chill. He told the panel that if there is any agreement on Ukraine Friday such as a ceasefire, it remains unclear how such a deal would be implemented, as European leaders are not at the table and haven't consented to actually putting such a ceasefire into place. Kyiv has long insisted that safeguards against future Russian attacks provided by its Western allies would be a precondition for achieving a durable end to the fighting. Yet many Western governments have been hesitant to commit military personnel. Countries in the coalition, which includes France and the U.K., have been trying for months to secure US security backing, should it be required.
