Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump will commence their summit in Anchorage, Alaska, tomorrow at 11:30 AM local time (9:30 PM Italian time), according to Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov, as reported by Moscow news agencies. The leaders will hold a joint press conference following the talks.
Ushakov confirmed the Russian delegation will include three ministers and two presidential advisors alongside Putin: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, advisor Yuri Ushakov, and foreign investment advisor Kirill Dmitriev.
The Kremlin stated the summit will begin with a bilateral meeting between Putin and Trump “naturally, with interpreters present,” TASS news agency reports. Discussions will include “an exchange of views on the future development of bilateral cooperation in the trade and economic sector,” which Ushakov described as having “enormous potential, unfortunately untapped so far.”
Breaking his pre-summit silence, Putin acknowledged Trump is making “energetic and sincere efforts” for a negotiated peace in Ukraine, cited by RIA Novosti. Putin suggested future U.S.-Russia contacts could focus on new agreements for strategic nuclear arms control, potentially ensuring “peace throughout the world.” He insisted this goal is achievable “if we reach agreements in the sphere of strategic offensive arms in the next stages” of negotiations. The New START treaty, the last remaining arms control pact between Moscow and Washington, expires next February.
Meanwhile, Trump stated there is a “25% chance” the meeting with Putin might be unsuccessful, Bloomberg reported from a radio interview. “Putin knows I’m the toughest guy he’s ever dealt with,” Trump added, claiming he would “call no one” if the talks go poorly but would contact Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky if successful. Trump emphasized the necessity of a subsequent trilateral summit involving Zelensky to secure any agreement.
Trump believes Putin is ready for a deal, suggesting the threat of sanctions likely played a key role in Moscow’s request for the meeting, Bloomberg further reported. “We’ll do our best and I think we’ll end up with a good result,” Trump stated.
Regarding potential sanctions relief should a Russia-Ukraine truce emerge, a European Commission spokesperson asserted the EU “will maintain pressure on Russia; the sanctions are working,” dismissing such adjustments as “mere speculation.” The EU stands prepared to support Ukraine “for the long term” and awaits outcomes from the Alaska summit. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted Trump has “many tools at his disposal” with Putin, “including sanctions,” in a Fox News interview.
Anchorage officials advised tourists and residents to “be patient” amid heightened security for the summit, with the mayor confirming readiness to host the event.
Concurrently, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Downing Street, reaffirming UK support for Kyiv amid uncertainties surrounding the Alaska summit. A Downing Street statement described their private meeting as sending “a powerful signal of unity and strong determination to achieve a just and lasting peace” ahead of the talks. Both leaders agreed the summit offers a “concrete chance for progress” towards ending the Russo-Ukrainian war, “provided Putin acts in a way that proves he is serious about peace.”