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The optics of the Trump-Putin
Alaska summit
13 August 2025
On Friday, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska (a former Russian territory) to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine. As of writing this, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not be part of the discussion. There are a few key dynamics in the lead up to this summit, which both give an indicator of how things might go, but may be diplomatic tactics as well.
Who is in the room
It is a coup for President Putin to secure a country-leader-level meeting with President Trump without making major concessions first. The fact that President Zelensky is not expected to attend gives Putin the upper hand in terms of being able to put forward his proposal (and his spin on it) first. But European countries are currently rallying behind Ukraine, advocating to get Zelensky in the room for the discussions and strategising about what to do if he is not, especially around security guarantees. Germany is convening an emergency virtual summit today to address options for increasing pressure on Russia, the status of Ukrainian territories under Russian control, security guarantees for Kyiv, and the sequencing of potential peace talks. President Trump will join European leaders, including President Zelensky, for the meeting.
Territorial concessions
While it was rarely talked about until recently, as this Trump-Putin meeting approaches, rhetoric about territorial concessions has ramped up. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged, “It will be about territory” and Senator Lindsey Graham said, “there will be land swaps” in an interview with NBC. President Trump himself said, “There will be some land swapping going on.” While they are not saying they support this outcome, they are starting to normalise the idea ahead of the meeting, which will pave the way for any announcements on this topic. President Zelensky has said Ukraine, “won’t give land to the occupier.” The latest survey released by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that just 38% of Ukrainians would be willing to accept some territorial losses in exchange for peace, while 52% remain “strongly opposed” to any such concessions – a figure that has fallen slightly since 2022. The poll also showed that 68% oppose formally recognising Russian control over occupied areas, and 78% reject handing over regions not currently held by Russia, a proposal put forward by Putin.
Location, location, location
While the fact that the United States is hosting Putin in the United States has drawn ire from some, there are some important factors driving the choice of location. Putin is still wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in relation to the Ukraine conflict. Alaska is also a long way from Ukraine and Europe, so Alaska is safe from both the ICC and pressure from Europe. The fact that Alaska itself was a former Russian territory is an interesting context for the meeting. Russia sold Alaska to the United States in 1867 and it serves as a reminder that country boundaries are not set in stone, while also drawing attention to the stark contrast between the acquisition of Alaska and Russia’s invasion and annexation of parts of Ukraine.
President Trump’s most recent statements suggest lowered expectations for the meeting. He has said, “probably in the first two minutes I’ll know exactly whether or not a deal can get done.” While there is a lot riding on this conversation on Friday, ultimately it may yield little in terms of lasting shifts.
Mari Koeck
Director, Engagement and Impact
Gorana Grgić
Senior Lecturer in US Politics and Foreign Policy
Lead image: On Friday, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska (a former Russian territory) to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine.
(Photo by Brendan Smialowski for Getty Images)
"I get along with Zelensky. But you know, I disagree with what he’s done – very, very severely disagree. This is a war that
should have never happened."
President Trump speaking to reporters | 11 August 2025
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