U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday, August 15, 2025, in Alaska, a summit that has raised speculation about a controversial territorial swap to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting, confirmed by the Kremlin, will be the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since 2019.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump confirmed the date and location: “The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska.” The Kremlin confirmed the meeting and described the venue as “quite logical,” stating that the two leaders would discuss “long-term peaceful settlement options” for the conflict that has raged since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The speculation surrounding a territorial exchange emerged after President Trump hinted at the possibility during a White House briefing, suggesting that “some swapping of territories” could be on the table “to the betterment of both” Ukraine and Russia. He did not offer any further specifics on what such a deal might entail.
The upcoming talks follow months of stalled peace negotiations. Previous rounds of diplomacy in Istanbul failed to make progress, as Russia has maintained hardline territorial demands, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insists on a deal that includes direct talks with him—something Putin has so far refused.
Ahead of the summit, Putin held calls with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both of whom have promoted their own peace initiatives. According to China’s state news agency, Xi expressed support for dialogue, believing that improved U.S.-Russia ties could help “promote a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.”
As diplomatic efforts gain momentum, fighting on the ground continues to ravage eastern and southern Ukraine. Donetsk governor Vadym Filashkin reported on Friday that families with children are being evacuated from 19 frontline villages as the conflict intensifies.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov hinted at the potential for deeper engagement between the two leaders, noting that an invitation has already been extended for Trump to visit Russia in the future
