Trump to Meet Putin in Alaska on August 15 Amid Tensions Over Ukraine and Global Calls for Peace

By Marco Baratto

In a move that has already stirred global debate,  U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday, August 15, in Alaska. 

Trump's announcement, posted on his social media account, emphasized the symbolic choice of Alaska as "the great state" to host the talks. The  president has floated the controversial idea of a "territorial exchange" as part of a possible peace deal, a proposal that has been met with sharp criticism from Kyiv and several European capitals. Ukrainian authorities have firmly reiterated that they will not accept giving up areas currently occupied by Russia.

In recent days, Trump has sought to increase pressure on Moscow by targeting countries that import Russian oil, such as India, through proposed tariffs. Analysts believe these measures are designed to give Trump greater leverage going into negotiations with Putin, though it remains uncertain whether the strategy will yield the desired results.

The Kremlin has described the upcoming Alaska summit as "an opportunity for dialogue" and reaffirmed its demands for security guarantees and international recognition of the territories it controls in Ukraine. It is not yet clear whether Ukrainian representatives or international mediators will participate in the talks.

The meeting will coincide with the Feast of the Assumption of Mary—known as the Dormition in Eastern Christianity. On this occasion, Pope Leo XVI and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew have called on Christians worldwide to dedicate prayers at all Masses for peace, underscoring the gravity of the current geopolitical moment.

As Alaska prepares to become the stage for a high-stakes diplomatic encounter, the world watches closely to see whether this meeting will bring a step toward resolution—or deepen divisions.