U.S. President Donald Trump has departed Washington for Alaska to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in what both nations are describing as a historic attempt to find a resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The high-stakes meeting is scheduled for Friday, August 15, in Anchorage, Alaska, and is being closely monitored by global observers.

Accompanying President Trump are U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The meeting represents the most direct diplomatic engagement between the two countries since the outbreak of the Ukraine war in February 2022. For Putin, this marks his first visit to a Western nation since the conflict began, underscoring the potential significance of the encounter.

The summit was proposed by President Putin himself, signaling Moscow’s interest in exploring diplomatic channels despite years of strained relations with Washington. However, Trump has cautioned that if Putin shows no willingness to compromise, the meeting could conclude within minutes. Calling the event a “test negotiation,” Trump said the primary aim is to gauge Putin’s willingness to move toward peace. He estimated the chances of success at 75 percent.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not be directly participating in this meeting but is following developments closely. Despite pressure from Trump, Zelensky has firmly rejected any suggestion of ceding Ukrainian territory as part of a settlement. Trump has made clear that any final agreement would require a trilateral meeting involving the United States, Ukraine, and Russia.

The talks are set to take place at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage at 11 a.m. local time (1 a.m. Bangladesh Standard Time). Historically, Elmendorf was a strategic hub for U.S. surveillance of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The choice of venue carries symbolic weight, given the deep-rooted geopolitical rivalry between Washington and Moscow.

Alaska itself holds a unique historical connection between the two nations. The United States purchased the territory from Russia in 1867, a transaction that Russia still regards as a notable example of territorial exchange in history. The location of the meeting in Alaska adds another layer of symbolism to an already sensitive and potentially transformative diplomatic event.

The Anchorage summit comes at a moment when the war in Ukraine shows little sign of resolution. Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and strained relations between Moscow and Western powers to a breaking point. Economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. and its allies have further deepened Russia’s isolation, while NATO has expanded its military presence in Eastern Europe.

Trump’s willingness to engage directly with Putin marks a sharp turn in U.S. foreign policy, aiming to test whether diplomatic talks can achieve what months of battlefield stalemate have failed to deliver. While some analysts view the meeting as a necessary step toward ending hostilities, others are skeptical of Russia’s intentions, pointing to previous failed ceasefire attempts and ongoing military offensives in Ukraine.

In the lead-up to the meeting, White House officials have been tight-lipped about specific negotiation points but have indicated that the discussions will cover key issues such as territorial control, security guarantees for Ukraine, and the easing of certain sanctions if a peace framework is agreed upon. Sources also suggest that humanitarian concerns, prisoner exchanges, and reconstruction aid for Ukraine may be part of the broader dialogue.

Putin’s decision to travel to a U.S. military base for the meeting is being interpreted as a calculated diplomatic gesture, potentially signaling a readiness to re-engage with the West under specific conditions. However, Kremlin officials have maintained that Russia’s “core security interests” will not be compromised and that any agreement must recognize the “realities on the ground” in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, President Zelensky has reaffirmed that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable. Speaking earlier this week, he warned that any settlement that involves surrendering land to Russia would be unacceptable to the Ukrainian people. He stressed that Ukraine’s military and people remain committed to resisting the invasion, regardless of diplomatic pressure.

Global reactions to the planned meeting have been mixed. European leaders have cautiously welcomed the talks but stressed the importance of including Ukraine as a full party to any binding agreement. NATO officials have also voiced concern about potential concessions that could undermine Ukraine’s long-term security.

Trump, however, has framed the Anchorage summit as an opportunity to explore all possible avenues for peace while making it clear that the United States will walk away from the table if the talks prove unproductive. “This is a test,” Trump said before boarding Air Force One. “If there’s no real intent to find a resolution, we’re not going to waste time. But if there’s a chance to save lives and end the war, we have to try.”

The outcome of the meeting could set the tone for the next phase of the Ukraine conflict, either opening the door to further negotiations or reinforcing the current diplomatic impasse. For now, both sides are approaching the talks with a mix of caution and strategic calculation, aware that the world will be watching closely as Trump and Putin meet in Alaska for what could be one of the defining diplomatic moments of the war.