Trump-Putin Talks in Alaska; New Caucasus Rail Deal

President Donald Trump is preparing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska for direct talks as efforts intensify to end the Ukraine war. Russia has proposed a ceasefire requiring Ukraine to cede Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea, but this has been firmly rejected by Ukraine and European officials, who instead demand reciprocal land exchanges and security guarantees for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated that Ukraine will not cede any territory. Russia's economy is showing increasing strain from sanctions and war expenditures, potentially weakening Moscow's negotiating stance. In the South Caucasus, a new U.S.-brokered agreement has led Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to open a railway corridor, reflecting shifting regional alliances and waning Russian influence. These developments highlight the evolving diplomatic landscape and the challenges to reaching a comprehensive peace.