President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska on Friday for a highly anticipated summit.
Details regarding the summit’s timing and specific location are still pending. The world is closely watching these discussions, particularly as this marks Putin’s first visit to the U.S. in ten years, and leaders are eager to see if any progress can be made.
Here’s what we currently know:
The White House press secretary announced on Tuesday that Trump will be in Anchorage on Friday morning for what she termed a “listening exercise” with Putin.
Trump indicated on Monday that the talks are exploratory and that his primary objective is to assess the feasibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine.
When questioned by reporters about his specific goals for the meeting with Putin, especially after previous calls yielded little progress and left Trump “frustrated,” the president remained vague.
However, he stated he expects to quickly gauge the potential for a ceasefire agreement with Putin, possibly within the first “two minutes.”
“I’m not going to make a deal. It’s not up to me to make a deal,” he said. “I think a deal should be made for both [Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy].
“I’d like to see a ceasefire. I’d like to see the best deal that could be made for both parties. You know, it takes two to tango,” he added.
Trump’s recent suggestion of a land “swap” between Russia and Ukraine has stirred controversy.
The specific borders Trump envisions being altered remain unclear, particularly which Russian territories he anticipates Putin ceding to Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his NATO allies have asserted that any agreement reached without Ukraine’s involvement is unacceptable.
Zelenskyy recently reiterated that he cannot unilaterally agree to cede territory illegally occupied by Russia without a national referendum, as mandated by Ukraine’s Constitution.
“Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace,” he added. “They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work.”
Following a meeting with EU officials, EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas told Fox News Digital, “Ukraine’s right to exist as a sovereign nation is under attack, as well as the security of our European continent.”
“As far as Russia has not agreed to full and unconditional ceasefire, we should not even discuss any concessions,” she said. “It has never worked in the past with Russia, and will not work with Putin today.”
Trump is scheduled to speak with Ukrainian and European leaders on Wednesday and will call Zelenskyy after his meeting with Putin, followed by calls to European leaders.
While Anchorage is approximately equidistant from Moscow and Washington, D.C., Trump surprised some by stating Putin had requested the meeting in Alaska rather than a neutral location like Switzerland or Hungary, which were previously considered.
Both locations presented potential issues. Switzerland, as a member of the International Criminal Court, might be obligated to act on the warrant issued against Putin. Hungary, although often seen as sympathetic to Russia, is a NATO member.
“They probably avoided Europe, because if they included Europe, then Europe would have demanded that they’re actually at the table,” Dan Hoffman, former CIA Moscow Station Chief, told Fox News Digital. “Probably your two choices were go to Russia — which Trump would never do — or invite him here.
“It also exposes the challenge that you can’t solve this without Ukraine and without Europe,” he added.
Alaska also shares a historical connection with the U.S., having been purchased from Russia in 1867.
While some in Russia and the U.S. highlighted this shared history, with Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev calling Alaska the “perfect stage” for the talks, others on social media suggested it underscored the fragility of sovereign borders.
Zelenskyy apparently was not invited to the talks, which the White House confirmed on Tuesday were at Putin’s request.
“The president is agreeing to this meeting at the request of President Putin,” Leavitt said Tuesday. “And the goal of this meeting for the president is to walk away with a better understanding of how we can end this war.”
Zelenskyy will speak with the U.S. president before the meeting on Wednesday.
Zelenskyy has consistently expressed his willingness to meet with Putin directly to end the war, but Putin has so far declined.
Trump stated on Monday that his aim is for Putin to meet with Zelenskyy after their meeting to begin discussing ceasefire terms, regardless of whether Trump is directly involved in negotiations.
“Ultimately, I’m going to put the two of them in a room. I’ll be there, or I won’t be there,” Trump said Monday. “And I think it’ll get solved.”
Zelenskyy also mentioned discussing the possibility of Turkish-brokered talks, which, despite failing to secure a lasting ceasefire, have facilitated the release of numerous Ukrainian and Russian prisoners of war (POWs).
“We are ready for any format of meeting aimed at stopping the killings and ending the war,” Zelenksyy said. “President Erdoğan confirmed his country’s readiness to organize a summit of the leaders of Ukraine, the United States, Russia, and Türkiye.”
Experts caution that it is premature to predict the outcome of Friday’s meeting with Putin.