Trump and Putin Hold Talks in Alaska Amidst Ukraine Conflict

On August 14, 2025, military personnel and media representatives gathered outside Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, in anticipation of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The summit, scheduled for Friday, marked the first face-to-face talks between the leaders since Trump's return to the White House.

The meeting, set to begin at 11 am Anchorage local time, was expected to center on finding a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. According to reports from Moscow, discussions would also encompass global "peace and security," as well as the advancement of economic and trade cooperation between the two nations.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived on Friday, but refrained from speculating on the potential outcomes of the summit. For Russia, the talks signaled a desire to initiate a peace process, despite maintaining a strong position on the battlefield.

President Trump expressed his belief that Putin was interested in achieving peace in Ukraine, and indicated that he would quickly gauge the meeting's success. He also suggested that a positive outcome could lead to a second meeting, potentially involving the Ukrainian leader.

The talks were seen by some as having political implications for the Trump administration, which was eager to explore a path to resolution after previous pledges to resolve the conflict had not been met. The meeting had also garnered attention from European leaders.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the talks to discuss ending the war. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz viewed the meeting as an "opportunity" for peace and urged Putin to drop preconditions for a ceasefire.

The White House had characterized the meeting as a "listening exercise," tempering expectations for a peace deal. Both sides appeared to be willing to engage in dialogue and establish a channel for communication.