U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he will use a high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska later this week to assess whether Moscow is ready to end its war in Ukraine, warning he will quickly determine if a deal is possible.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump described the August 15 meeting as “really a feel-out meeting” and predicted he would know “probably in the first two minutes” if negotiations could move forward.
“I may say, ‘Lots of luck, keep fighting.’ Or I may say, ‘We can make a deal,’” Trump said, adding that he has been “disappointed” with some of Putin’s past actions.
The conflict, now entering its fourth year, remains one of the most pressing geopolitical crises facing the U.S. and its allies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders have voiced concerns that Putin could seek to retain control over occupied Ukrainian territories as part of any settlement. Trump acknowledged that “some land-swapping” could be part of a final agreement, but insisted he would push to return “some very prime territory” to Kyiv.
European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, have urged Trump to involve Ukraine fully in the talks. Trump said he plans to consult with Zelenskyy and European allies before and after the summit.
The meeting will mark the first in-person encounter between Trump and Putin since 2019. Trump suggested that the ultimate goal should be direct talks between Zelenskyy and Putin, offering to attend if needed.
The Alaska summit comes amid intense diplomatic maneuvering, with Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv under pressure to find a path toward ending a war that has reshaped global security, disrupted energy markets, and deepened divisions between Russia and the West.
