**US and Russia Agree to Hold Meeting Between Trump and Putin**
The United States and Russia have agreed to hold a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin next Friday, August 15th, to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine. This development comes after three rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine held at Trump’s behest this summer failed to bring the two sides any closer to peace.
**What Led Up to This Meeting?**
As a candidate, Trump pledged that he could end the war within 24 hours after taking office. He has repeatedly claimed that the war “never would have happened” if he had been president at the time of Russia’s invasion. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Trump set an August 8th deadline for Putin to agree to an immediate ceasefire or face more severe US sanctions.
**Why Are Putin and Trump Meeting?**
The meeting comes after US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff held “highly productive” talks with Putin in Moscow on Wednesday. While Ukraine has been adamant that it won’t accept Russian control of regions it seized, such as Crimea, Putin has shown no signs of budging from his territorial demands.
**What Do Both Sides Hope to Get Out of It?**
The US president claims that a deal “to stop the killing” is “very close.” However, both Russia and Ukraine appear to want things that the other harshly opposes. Trump’s administration has been attempting to sway European leaders on a ceasefire deal that would hand over swathes of Ukrainian territory to Russia.
**Where Will Trump and Putin Meet?**
The meeting will take place in Alaska, a former Russian territory which only became a US state in 1959. The exact location of their meeting in Alaska has not been released. This choice may be seen as significant due to the historical ties between the two countries, with Russia having sold Alaska to the US in 1867.
**What’s Next?**
While Trump and Putin will meet next Friday, it remains unclear if Ukraine will attend the meeting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed concerns that any agreements without input from Kyiv will amount to “dead decisions.” The US Vice-President suggested that Zelensky could join Putin and Trump for talks at a later date.
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