Former U.S. President Donald Trump will travel to Anchorage to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday morning, with the aim of ending the war in Ukraine.
Meeting in Anchorage
White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt announced the venue during a press conference, confirming that Trump will discuss the war in Ukraine with Putin in Anchorage. She emphasized that Trump is determined to bring the conflict to a close and stop the killing.
Meeting Without Zelensky
Leavitt explained that a single‑room meeting would give the U.S. president the clearest guidance on ending the war. She noted a potential trilateral meeting in the future and confirmed that on Wednesday Trump would attend a conference with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky: Key Issues Must Be Discussed in Ukraine’s Presence
Zelensky told reporters that his war‑end plan prioritizes a ceasefire, followed by U.S.‑mediated negotiations and clear security guarantees. He emphasized that Europe must also participate in the process and that key issues concerning Ukraine must be discussed with Ukraine present.
Conversation “a bit on the lounge”
Trump has suggested that a settlement between Russia and Ukraine could involve territorial exchanges. Politico reports the U.S. offered Russia full control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in return for freezing front lines in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Zelensky insisted Ukraine would not abandon Donbas. In a recent interview, Trump described the meeting as “relaxed and exploratory” and stated his intention to urge Putin to end the war. He added that Zelensky was not invited but would be called afterward, and promised that a fair agreement would be shared with Zelensky and European leaders. The White House aims to organize a subsequent meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents or a trilateral summit with U.S. participation.
