Global attention is focused on an upcoming summit between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, set to take place Friday at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska. The high-stakes meeting marks Putin’s first visit to Western soil since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and ongoing military escalation.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Trump issued a stark warning that this may be a “make-or-break” opportunity for Putin, saying there may not be a second meeting if the initial talks fail to produce meaningful progress. “If I feel that it’s not appropriate to have it because I didn’t get the answers that we have to have, then we are not going to have a second meeting,” Trump told reporters.
Still, Trump floated the possibility of a rapid follow-up summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—provided the first round of talks is productive.
Trump also warned Moscow of “severe consequences” if Russia does not halt its offensive in Ukraine. Despite this, Russia’s military has made significant advances, with the largest daily territorial gain in over a year recorded on August 12, according to data from the Institute for the Study of War.
Putin reportedly proposed the Alaska meeting after Trump threatened to impose sanctions. In recent weeks, Trump has already increased tariffs on Indian imports, targeting a country that has become a major buyer of Russian energy.
As the summit looms, diplomatic activity has surged. Zelensky held phone calls with both Trump and European leaders, reiterating his refusal to cede territory and voicing skepticism about Putin’s intentions. “Putin definitely does not want peace,” Zelensky said.
European leaders echoed that sentiment. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Ukraine is open to discussing “territorial issues” but that recognizing Russian control over occupied areas is “not up for debate.” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte added, “The ball is now in Putin’s court.”
In Anchorage, preparations are underway, with security heightened and hotels filled with arriving media crews. The U.S. Treasury announced a temporary easing of sanctions to facilitate travel and logistics for Russian officials attending the summit.
Despite the high-level talks, Ukrainian forces on the frontlines remain skeptical. In the eastern city of Kramatorsk, just 20 kilometers from active combat zones, soldiers expressed doubt that the summit would alter the war’s trajectory.
“Putin is massing an army, his army is growing, he is stockpiling weapons, he is pulling the wool over our eyes,” said Artem, a 30-year-old Ukrainian serviceman.
Trump, who has claimed he could end the war in 24 hours if re-elected, now faces increasing pressure as Putin continues military operations and resists calls for a ceasefire. The outcome of Friday’s summit may shape the next chapter in the ongoing conflict—and determine whether diplomacy has any space left to maneuver.
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