Overview

• Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that he will meet Putin on August 15 in Alaska, marking their first in-person encounter since he returned to the White House in January.
• Talks will focus on a ceasefire framework that may involve swapping territory, with Moscow demanding recognition of its control over parts of Donbás and Crimea.
• Zelenski has called any deal made without Ukraine “stillborn” and reinforced that the Ukrainian constitution prohibits ceding national territory.
• US envoy Steve Witkoff’s recent trip to Moscow preceded a sanctions ultimatum that expired on August 8 without securing Russian moves toward peace.
• European Union and NATO members have expressed skepticism about any agreement that legitimizes territorial gains obtained by force.