**No New Sanctions on Russia as Trump Prepares to Meet Putin in Alaska**
Despite Moscow’s refusal to cease hostilities in Ukraine by his August 8 deadline, U.S. President Donald Trump has not imposed fresh sanctions on Russia. Instead, the two leaders are set to meet for a high-level summit in Alaska on August 15 for peace talks.
Trump’s approach is focused on negotiating a potential peace deal through “some swapping” of territories between Ukraine and Russia. This idea was floated by Putin during a meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who reportedly proposed a ceasefire in exchange for control over Ukraine’s eastern regions. The Wall Street Journal cited European and Ukrainian officials as sources for this information.
**Trump’s Peace Plan: A Territory Swap?**
The planned summit will mark the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin since January. In July, Trump set a 50-day deadline for Putin to end hostilities or face 100% secondary tariffs on Russian oil exports. However, as Moscow continued to delay its response, the deadline was shortened to August 8.
Trump’s plan involves swapping territories to “better the betterment of both” parties involved. This is in contrast to Kyiv and European allies’ demand for an unconditional ceasefire. Putin has reportedly shown little interest in halting hostilities, believing his forces hold the upper hand on the battlefield.
**Russia Holds Upper Hand on Battlefield**
Recent reports indicate that Moscow’s troops are closing in on key front-line towns in Donetsk Oblast, such as Pokrovsk and Chasiv Yar. Ukraine faces significant manpower shortages, making it harder for them to counter Russian aggression. Russia currently occupies around 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea.
Putin has previously made peace demands that include full control over four Ukrainian regions, limits on Ukraine’s military strength, a ban on joining NATO, and promoting the Russian language in Ukraine. These conditions have been rejected by Kyiv, which insists that territorial discussions must come after a full ceasefire.
**A Meeting to End All Meetings?**
Trump reportedly believes Putin is open to negotiations if land swaps are included in the talks. A trilateral summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also on the cards, with Ukraine signaling its readiness for such a format. However, Putin claims he has conditions that must be met before agreeing to this meeting.
The question remains whether Trump’s peace plan will bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine or merely delay the inevitable. Only time and the outcome of the Alaska summit will tell.
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