As a high-stakes summit in Anchorage, Alaska, looms, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump are setting the stage for a dramatic negotiation aimed at ending the protracted war in Ukraine. The summit, scheduled for August 15 at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, represents the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Trump’s re-election in 2024.
Putin, in a pre-summit address, expressed his appreciation for what he called the “sincere efforts” of the U.S. administration to bring a halt to the hostilities. He also raised the tantalizing prospect of a new nuclear arms control agreement, a topic that has gained urgency as the last remaining major treaty between the two nuclear powers, New START, is set to expire in February 2026. Experts say the treaty is already “functionally dead” after Russia suspended its participation, and the idea of a new agreement could be a significant step toward de-escalation.
However, the primary focus of the summit remains the war in Ukraine, and the path to peace is anything but clear. Trump has consistently campaigned on a promise to end the conflict swiftly, even hinting at the possibility of a deal involving “some swapping of territories.” This has caused significant concern among Ukraine and its European allies.
In response, European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have been in a flurry of diplomatic activity. They have held a series of virtual and in-person meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to ensure their collective voice is heard. A “Coalition of the Willing,” a group of 31 countries supporting Ukraine, has issued a joint statement emphasizing that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.” They also stressed the non-negotiable principle that “international borders must not be changed by force.”
Zelenskyy himself has been vocal, rejecting any notion of territorial concessions and reiterating his government’s stance that a ceasefire must precede any negotiations about borders. He has also insisted that any decisions made without Ukraine’s involvement would be “unworkable.” European leaders have backed this position, making it clear that a durable peace must include robust security guarantees for Ukraine to ensure its sovereignty and territorial integrity are protected from future aggression.
While Trump has reportedly assured European leaders that he wants to achieve a ceasefire, the lack of Ukrainian participation in the Anchorage summit itself has fueled fears that a deal favorable to Moscow could be brokered. The Kremlin, for its part, has confirmed that resolving the Ukraine crisis is the “central topic” of the talks and that the summit will also explore the “huge” potential for bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the U.S. and Russia.
As the world watches, the Anchorage summit promises to be a pivotal moment, not only for the future of Ukraine but also for the broader landscape of global security and the balance of power between major world leaders.
