US President Donald Trump will host Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska this Friday, August 15, 2025.
The White House confirmed the meeting on Wednesday, framing it as a crucial attempt to end the grinding, three-year war in Ukraine.
This summit marks the first time the two leaders will sit down for a dedicated one-on-one meeting since their 2018 encounter in Helsinki.
Officials say both men want to use the opportunity to break the deadlock in peace talks, though expectations remain cautious.
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, which sits just outside Anchorage, combines the Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson Army Post.
Since merging in 2010, the installation has become home to Alaska Command which oversees US forces in the state and the Alaskan NORAD Region, which monitors and intercepts potential airborne threats.
From this base, US pilots frequently shadow Russian aircraft that test the edges of American airspace.
Trump has devoted much of his second term to trying to broker a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.
Despite several rounds of talks, he has yet to secure a breakthrough.
Sources close to the discussions say the Alaska meeting could either open the door to real progress or mark yet another stalemate.
For Putin, the summit offers a rare chance to meet on American soil, in a setting loaded with symbolic and strategic meaning.
For Trump, it provides an opportunity to show he can end a war that has drained Western resources and destabilized Europe since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
However, both leaders face pressure at home. In Washington, Trump must convince critics that his approach will protect US interests without rewarding aggression.
In Moscow, Putin must balance any potential concessions with the hardline expectations of his political base.
The meeting’s location a military hub known for keeping watch over Russian planes underscores the delicate mix of rivalry and diplomacy shaping US-Russia relations.
As Friday approaches, allies and adversaries alike will be watching closely to see whether the Alaskan cold will chill negotiations or clear the air for peace.
