Peace or Pressure? Trump and Putin to Meet in Alaska

TDT | Manama

Email : ashen@newsofbahrain.com

The leaders of the United States and Russia have agreed to meet in Alaska next Friday, August 15, to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Speaking from the White House, President Donald Trump confirmed he would sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin for face-to-face talks — their first since 2019. Shortly after, he posted on social media announcing the date and location.

Reports from CBS, a US news partner of the BBC, suggest Washington is quietly trying to persuade European allies to support a possible peace deal. The proposed plan would see Ukraine hand over the eastern Donbas region and Crimea to Russia, while Moscow would withdraw troops from other occupied areas.

The White House has not officially confirmed those details, but Trump hinted the agreement could involve “some swapping of territories.” He also urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to “get ready to sign something.”

This comes after Trump’s earlier deadline for Putin to agree to a ceasefire passed without any announcement or new sanctions.

In response, President Zelenskyy strongly rejected the idea of giving up land, declaring, “We will not give our land to occupiers.” He stressed that any agreement made without Ukraine’s involvement would be “against peace.”

Since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia has failed to achieve a decisive victory but still controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory. Ukraine’s counteroffensives have not yet succeeded in forcing Russian troops back.

Next week’s Alaska meeting could be a pivotal moment — but it is already stirring controversy over what peace might cost.