The blue-chip Dow opened at a record high on Friday ahead of the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska.
In the early hours of trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI), opens new tab rose 248.7 points, or 0.55%, at the open to 45,159.91. The S&P 500 (.SPX), opens new tab rose 8.8 points, or 0.14%, at the open to 6,477.38, while the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC), opens new tab dropped 1.3 points, or 0.01%, to 21,709.336.
As anticipation builds for Friday’s high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump has suggested there is a “one in four” chance the summit could end in failure.
The talks will focus on the possibility of a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, with discussions expected to centre on terms for peace and the future of the four Ukrainian regions currently under Russian control, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
Putin is expected to push for recognition of Russian control over all four, including areas still held by Ukraine.
While Trump has floated the idea of potential “land swaps,” he has stressed that any final agreement must be reached directly between Kyiv and Moscow.
Since returning to office, Trump’s stance has oscillated between frustration with both sides and optimism for a swift peace deal. He has delayed sanctions enforcement despite warning Putin of “serious consequences” if a ceasefire is not reached.
The talks are expected to take place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. though the White House has not confirmed the venue. According to the Kremlin, the summit will begin at 11:30 a.m. local time (12.30 am IST) on Friday, Aug. 15. It will start with a one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin, joined only by interpreters, followed by a larger discussion involving senior aides and officials from both governments.