In a significant development for the ongoing conflict, US President Donald Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine. This meeting, announced by Trump on social media and later confirmed by a Kremlin spokesperson, was deemed a “logical choice” given Alaska’s geographical proximity to Russia.
The spokesperson further revealed that Trump had been invited to Russia for a potential second summit. However, there was no immediate reaction from Ukraine. This announcement came shortly after Trump hinted that Ukraine might have to cede territory to end the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.
Discussing the territorial disputes, Trump acknowledged the complicated nature of the situation at the White House last Friday. He suggested that some territories could be swapped to the benefit of both Ukraine and Russia, though he did not elaborate on how this proposal would work. Sources from CBS News, however, reported that the White House is proposing an agreement to European leaders where Russia would retain control over the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine and Crimea, but surrender the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, which it currently partially occupies. The Wall Street Journal also reported that Putin had proposed a similar arrangement to Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow.
The feasibility of such a deal remains uncertain, given Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s strong opposition to any territorial concessions. Even with this uncertainty, a senior White House official mentioned that the planning for the meeting is still in flux and could potentially involve Zelensky.
Despite Russia’s inability to achieve a decisive breakthrough, it still occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine’s territory. Meanwhile, Ukrainian efforts to push back Russian forces have been largely unsuccessful. Direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul have so far failed to bring an end to the conflict, as Moscow’s demands for peace, including Ukraine’s neutrality and the reduction of its military capabilities, are seen as a form of capitulation by Kyiv and its allies.
Nevertheless, Trump remains optimistic about the possibility of a trilateral peace agreement between the US, Ukraine, and Russia. He believes that European leaders, Putin, and Zelensky are all in favor of peace, and that Zelensky is working hard to agree on a deal. However, Trump has expressed disappointment with Putin in the past, following unrealized optimism after talks with his envoy. While Trump initially imposed a deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire, threatening further sanctions if it refused, the potential meeting with Putin to discuss a peace deal has shifted the focus away from this economic threat.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1dxed639n7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
