Trump and Putin to Meet in Alaska with Joint Press Conference

High-Stakes Summit in Alaska

Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will hold a critical meeting tomorrow evening at 21:30 Dutch time in Alaska, followed by a joint press conference. Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov confirmed the schedule, noting Ukraine's war will dominate discussions alongside security issues and economic cooperation.

Ukrainian Absence

Ukrainian President Zelensky wasn't invited to the talks despite the conflict's centrality to the agenda.

Delegation Details

The Russian delegation includes Foreign Minister Lavrov, Defense Minister Belousov, Finance Minister Siluanov, and special envoy Dmitriev. This marks the first face-to-face meeting between the leaders since 2019, though they've held multiple phone discussions about Ukraine in recent months.

Previous Diplomatic Efforts

After their last call, Trump expressed frustration, stating Putin showed no willingness to end hostilities: "He is not planning to stop."

Warnings and Expectations

Trump warned yesterday of "heavy consequences" if Russia refuses to end the war. The summit's duration remains unclear, affecting press conference timing. Trump hinted at potential follow-up meetings: "There's a good chance a second meeting could be more productive."

European Coordination

European leaders held video consultations yesterday, with Zelensky joining from Berlin after meeting Chancellor Merz. French President Macron stated Trump would push for a Ukraine ceasefire. Today, Zelensky visited UK Prime Minister Starmer in London, calling it a "good and useful meeting" on Telegram.