President Donald Trump will personally greet Russian President Vladimir Putin with a red-carpet welcome at Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Alaska on Friday, in what the White House is billing as a crucial first step toward ending the war in Ukraine.
According to BBC News, two senior administration officials confirmed that Trump is determined to meet Putin on the tarmac upon his arrival. The encounter, the first direct talks between the two leaders since Trump’s return to the White House — comes as Russian forces launched fresh overnight attacks on Ukraine, underscoring the urgency and the peril of the diplomatic gamble.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the summit could last six to seven hours, beginning at 10:00 p.m. Kyiv time with a one-on-one conversation attended only by interpreters. That will be followed by broader talks involving senior aides and a working breakfast.
Notably, Trump has no confirmed plans to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or European leaders before the Alaska meeting. While aides have not ruled out last-minute calls during the President’s seven-hour flight from Washington, the decision has fuelled speculation over whether Ukraine’s voice will be fully represented in the discussions.
Ceasefire and the ‘Bigger Meeting’
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump described the Alaska summit as a “good first meeting” aimed at bringing Putin to the negotiating table. He emphasised that his goal was not to act as Ukraine’s official representative but to create conditions for future talks that could include Kyiv and “perhaps a few European leaders — maybe not.”
He disclosed that he had already spoken to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close Putin ally, in the run-up to the meeting. “The more critical meeting will be the second,” Trump told reporters, hinting at a follow-up summit involving Zelenskyy if Friday’s talks make headway.
Ukraine has cautiously welcomed Trump’s initiative. Zelenskyy, though excluded from the Alaska meeting, has publicly backed the idea of participating in any subsequent round, saying Ukraine is “counting on America” to push for a fair settlement.
Multiple Agendas, Unclear Outcomes
The White House has given shifting accounts of what Trump hopes to achieve. According to BBC North America correspondent Gary O’Donoghue, possibilities range from a simple “listening exercise” to exploring contentious territorial proposals.
One idea reportedly under discussion is restoring Russia’s membership in the G8, from which it was expelled in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea. Another could involve expanding US–Russia business ties, with several prominent American and Russian corporate leaders expected in Anchorage alongside the political delegations.
O’Donoghue cautioned that the “fundamental issue” remains Putin’s strategic objectives, which Western analysts believe are deeply ideological, tied to visions of Russian dominance that predate even the Soviet Union. “The challenge for Trump will be understanding the historical roots of Putin’s war aims while safeguarding Ukraine’s interests,” O’Donoghue said.
A Diplomatic Gamble
For Trump, the meeting represents both an opportunity and a risk. Success could position him as the architect of a breakthrough in one of the world’s most intractable conflicts. Failure could invite criticism that the US President offered Putin legitimacy without securing concrete gains.
Analysts in Washington note that the optics of the red-carpet welcome, normally reserved for close allies, will be closely scrutinised by NATO partners wary of any signs of softening toward Moscow. The absence of prior consultation with European capitals may heighten those concerns.
High Stakes for Ukraine
For Kyiv, the stakes are existential. Diplomats warn that possible scenarios range from incremental progress toward a ceasefire to outcomes that could seriously undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty. With Russian forces still on the offensive, Zelenskyy’s government will be watching for any indication that Washington might back proposals seen as concessions to Moscow.
Beyond the First Meeting
If the Alaska summit yields tangible progress, Trump has proposed hosting a follow-up meeting including Zelenskyy and selected European leaders. The Ukrainian President has endorsed the idea, though both sides admit that any lasting settlement will require difficult compromises.
The Alaska talks are set to unfold under tight security, with both US and Russian officials keen to control the narrative emerging from the closed-door sessions. Whether they mark the start of a serious peace process or simply another chapter in the long, fraught history of US–Russia relations will become clearer in the hours and days that follow.
