President Donald Trump plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, but details about timing remain unconfirmed. Trump announced the meeting last week on social media, framing it as a step toward halting Russia´s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said the talks aim to create a temporary ceasefire that could stop current fighting. He suggested a potential deal might include land swaps, acknowledging Russia´s control over key Ukrainian territories since the 2022 invasion began.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, excluded from the planned discussions, rejected surrendering land in a Sunday address, calling it unacceptable for peace. Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainians would not “gift their land to the occupier,” signaling strong opposition to territorial concessions under any agreement.
During Monday’s remarks, Trump twice mistakenly referenced Russia as the meeting location before correcting himself to Alaska, the expected negotiation site. Trump said hosting Putin in the United States showed respect and could foster constructive dialogue toward resolving the prolonged military conflict.
Following the Trump-Putin Alaska meeting, Trump plans to call European leaders to discuss the outcomes and coordinate further diplomatic efforts. He expressed willingness to arrange a future meeting with both Putin and Zelenskyy, stating he would participate if circumstances required it.
Although Trump claimed strong personal relationships with both leaders, he criticized Zelenskyy’s actions during the conflict as a “very severe” disagreement. Asked to define a successful deal, Trump declined to offer specifics, saying judgment would depend on proposals presented during the meeting.
