As the world awaits Friday’s high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump stated that there is a “one in four” chance the summit could end in failure.
The Trump-Putin summit is set to discuss the possibility of a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire.
“This meeting sets up the second meeting, but there is a 25 percent chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting,” Trump told Fox News Radio.
He added that the follow-up session would be “very, very important” as it would be the one where both sides work toward a potential deal.
“I don’t want to use the word ‘divvy’ things up. But you know, to a certain extent, it’s not a bad term,” Trump said. The meeting will be followed by a joint press conference, the White House confirmed on Thursday.
When and where will the meeting take place?
The talks are expected to take place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. though the White House has not confirmed the venue.
Alaska was chosen for its proximity to Russia, which is just 90 kilometers from Russian territory at its nearest point, allowing Putin to travel without flying over hostile airspace.
According to the Kremlin, the summit will begin at 11:30 a.m. local time (3:30 p.m. ET) 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.
Trump has said he plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders after the talks conclude to brief them on the discussions.
What is on the agenda of the meeting?
According to US and Russian officials, the discussions will focus on possible terms for a ceasefire and the future of the four Ukrainian regions that Russian forces currently control: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
Putin is anticipated to advocate for the acknowledgement of Russian dominance over all four, including regions that Ukraine still controls.
Trump has hinted at potential “land swaps,” but he has emphasised that direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow are necessary for any final agreement.
Trump has fluctuated between being frustrated with Putin and Ukraine and hopeful that a speedy peace agreement can be reached since taking office again.
He has repeatedly postponed enforcing sanctions despite warning Putin of “serious consequences” if a ceasefire is not reached.
Trump played down expectations this week, referring to the Alaska summit as a “feel-out meeting” to gauge Putin’s commitment to bringing the war to an end.
He has, however, stated that he would welcome the opportunity to portray himself as the leader who ended the conflict, a legacy he has openly associated with his aspirations for a Nobel Peace Prize.
For Putin, simply appearing alongside the US president on American soil is a diplomatic victory, stressing on his claim that Russia is not isolated despite the war in Ukraine.
With no Ukrainian delegation present, U.S. officials are cautioning against hopes for an immediate deal. The White House has described the talks as a “listening session” rather than a formal negotiation.