Payam Javan: President Donald Trump announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, 2025, as part of renewed efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The announcement, made on Truth Social on August 8, comes after Trump hinted earlier in the day that a location for the talks would be revealed soon. This will mark Trump’s first face-to-face meeting with Putin since returning to the White House in January.

The planned summit follows months of behind-the-scenes negotiations and increased pressure on Moscow, including new U.S. sanctions targeting countries that buy Russian oil and an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian oil imports from Russia, raising the total to 50 percent. Trump suggested that NATO’s increased military spending and these sanctions may have influenced Russia’s agreement to participate in the talks. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently met with Putin in Moscow for three hours to help prepare the groundwork for possible cease-fire discussions.

The Kremlin confirmed the upcoming meeting, initially hinting at a possible venue in the United Arab Emirates before the Alaska location was finalized. While no specific peace deal framework has been disclosed, Trump expressed optimism about the potential for an agreement, comparing the opportunity to the recent Armenia–Azerbaijan peace pact. India, which has faced criticism from Trump for reselling Russian oil on the global market, defended its actions as a necessity to secure affordable energy amid global supply disruptions caused by the war.