Trump, Putin Expected to Meet in Alaska Amid Ukraine Conflict

President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in an effort to negotiate an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. Trump has expressed cautious optimism about the meeting, with commentators like Bill O'Reilly suggesting that Trump now better understands Putin's deceptive tactics and is prepared to apply pressure, including setting strict timelines and leveraging economic sanctions. Key conditions for peace discussed include Ukraine potentially ceding some territory and the influence of China turning against Putin, which could decisively shift the balance. Despite hopeful declarations from Russian negotiators and some Western observers, analysts warn that Trump may still lack clarity on Putin's true position and that the complex geopolitical situation is far from resolved. The meeting is seen as historic, being the first Putin visit to the U.S. since 2015, and it carries significant uncertainty about the possibility of a reciprocal territorial exchange and broader peace agreement. Overall, the coming talks reflect a delicate mix of hopeful diplomacy and deep skepticism about achievable outcomes.