Trump and Putin Meet at Elmendorf-Richardson Base in Anchorage to Discuss Peace in Ukraine

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin arrived in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss an agreement of peace in Ukraine at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base, their first face-to-face meeting since 2019.

“Russia’s armed forces are aiming to capture the remaining 20 percent of Ukraine’s partially occupied eastern Donetsk region by the end of the year, having – according to Kyiv – failed to meet 14 previous deadlines”

Al Jazeera

The meeting is set against a battlefield picture in which Russia’s frontline advances have slowed almost to a halt, with Ukrainian counter-attacks and defensive tactics described as more effective.

Al Jazeera

In the run-up, Zelensky said in Alaska that "Putin avrà la meglio in questo incontro" because "quello che vuole è una foto. Ha bisogno di una foto con il presidente Trump".

Il Post frames the contrast in goals as Trump seeking to "avviare un dialogo sull’Ucraina" while Putin treats the encounter as an opportunity to be exploited fully.

The Independent adds that Russia’s territorial gains have dropped to "just a fraction of the territory they seized in May 2025" as Ukrainian strikes and defensive tactics reshape the pace of advances.

Trump has said his main objective is to "capire cosa pensa" Putin, calling the Anchorage gathering a "riunione conoscitiva" to determine whether Putin is in good faith.

The Independent reports that nearly 500,000 Russian soldiers had been killed, citing GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler’s inaugural public speech.

Courrier international

Al Jazeera describes Russia’s advance as having "collapsed" and says Russia’s armed forces were aiming to capture the remaining 20 percent of Ukraine’s partially occupied eastern Donetsk region by the end of the year.

In the same Al Jazeera report, Zelenskyy warned that if Putin wants to send more troops, "these million Russians, who have not yet been mobilised into the Russian army and are queuing for gasoline, should think about what awaits them next," tying the battlefield outlook to recruitment and attrition.

Sud Ouest reports Trump’s attempt to temper expectations, quoting him saying, "There is a 25% chance that this meeting will not be a success," while also noting the summit’s location at Elmendorf-Richardson Base north of Anchorage.

The stakes of the Anchorage talks are tied to territorial demands and the possibility of a ceasefire, with Al Jazeera saying Russia’s forces were working toward capturing the remaining 20 percent of eastern Donetsk while missing 14 previous deadlines.

“The President of the United States, Donald Trump, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, will meet on Friday, August 15, at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska, to discuss the war in Ukraine and a possible ceasefire for the conflict that began in 2022”

Geopop

Al Jazeera also reports that Ukraine announced a 40-day campaign of mid and long-range strikes "against the aggressor state aimed at compelling it to end the war," and that mid-range strikes targeted Russian logistics including warehouses, resupply convoys and bridges.

Lowy Institute argues that it is "important not to exaggerate the extent to which Ukraine’s fortunes have changed," warning that Russia would only accept a ceasefire that locks in its gains and enables Moscow to pursue an eventual final settlement on Russia’s terms.

In the same Lowy Institute analysis, it says a ceasefire would carry risks for Kyiv because Russia could use the pause to rebuild military strength and step up political subversion in Ukraine.

Il Post adds that Putin has a contingent goal to "posporre dazi e sanzioni" by manipulating the pace of any agreement, while Trump has threatened "dazi e sanzioni" if Russia did not accept quickly a ceasefire.