Trump, Putin Meet in Anchorage to Discuss Ukraine Ceasefire

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet on August 15 in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss a potential resolution to the Ukraine conflict. Trump indicated he would know within the first two minutes whether a deal could be made, describing the meeting as a 'feel-out' session that might lead to a ceasefire or continued fighting. While Trump suggested future talks could include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kyiv and European leaders are currently excluded from this initial summit, prompting Germany to organize a separate virtual meeting involving Trump, Zelenskyy, NATO, and European officials. The White House emphasized Trump's commitment to peace and partnership, although Zelenskyy has asserted that any meaningful discussion on Ukraine must include Ukraine itself. Preparations for the meeting are underway, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming their commitment to the summit's success during a recent phone call.