Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Aug 9: US President Donald Trump has announced a high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next Friday, August 15, in a bid to broker a ceasefire and end the war in Ukraine.

In a social media post, Trump said the summit will take place in the “Great State of Alaska,” adding that further details will follow. The meeting will mark Putin’s first visit to US soil in nearly a decade.

The announcement comes amid a week of intense diplomacy between Washington, European allies, and Moscow. Sources indicate discussions have revolved around a potential land-swap deal that could cement Russia’s occupation of territories seized since its 2022 invasion — including Crimea and the eastern Donbas — in exchange for certain concessions to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s absence from the planned talks has sparked fears that Washington and Moscow might push a deal Kyiv is unwilling to accept. Zelenskiy has repeatedly vowed not to cede any territory, insisting on Russia’s full troop withdrawal and reparations.

Trump acknowledged a territorial exchange may be part of any agreement, calling the process “very complicated” but necessary for both sides’ benefit. “We’re going to get some back, we’re going to get some switched,” he said.

European nations remain wary of enforcing any ceasefire, concerned that Moscow could use the pause to rebuild its military strength. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has invited Trump to hold a follow-up meeting in Russia.

A successful deal would mark a major political win for Trump, who has pledged to swiftly end the conflict. However, critics warn his approach risks sidelining Ukraine’s interests while granting Putin a diplomatic and territorial victory.