The upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this Friday is being described by the White House as primarily a “listening exercise,” signaling that immediate breakthroughs in the Russia-Ukraine conflict are unlikely.
“Only one party involved in this war will be present,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt explained on Tuesday. “The president will use this meeting to gain a clearer understanding of the situation and explore ways the war could eventually be resolved.”
The Anchorage summit will feature a one-on-one discussion between Trump and Putin. While no concrete agreements are expected, Leavitt hinted that Trump may consider traveling to Russia in the future.
Land Concessions Remain a Contentious Point
Trump has suggested that territorial compromises could be necessary to end the conflict, a position that clashes with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s stance. Zelenskiy has repeatedly stated that Ukraine’s constitution forbids any deal that cedes land without Kyiv’s direct involvement, underscoring the complexity of negotiations.
The White House has not commented on pre-summit communications between Trump and Zelenskiy, but Trump indicated earlier this week that Zelenskiy could potentially join a future meeting with Putin.
Leavitt emphasized Trump’s respect for all sides engaged in the conflict, framing the Alaska talks as a step toward gathering insights rather than immediately broker a settlement.
