Trump Heads to Alaska for High-Stakes Putin Talks, Says Ukraine Will Decide on Any Territorial Swaps

Washington, D.C. – US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that the subject of territorial swaps between Ukraine and Russia will be on the agenda during his upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. However, he emphasized that any decision on the matter will rest entirely with Ukraine.

“They will be discussed, but I’ll let Ukraine make that decision, and I think they will make the right decision,” Trump told reporters as he departed for Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the site of the high-level talks. “I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine; I’m here to bring them to the table. Putin wanted to occupy all of Ukraine—if I wasn’t president, he would be occupying all of Ukraine right now. But he’s not going to do that.”

The summit, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, is expected to focus squarely on ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump has pledged to “end the Ukraine war quickly” but has also made clear he will not dictate terms on Kyiv’s behalf.

A Symbolic Arrival by Moscow

Trump’s remarks came just after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov landed in Anchorage wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with the Soviet Union’s iconic acronym “CCCP.” The display was widely interpreted as a symbolic signal of Moscow’s hardened negotiating stance.

The Russian delegation also includes prominent business leaders, which Trump acknowledged with cautious optimism. “Putin is a smart guy. I see they are bringing in a lot of businessmen from Russia, and that is a good thing. I like it because I want to do business. But we will not do business until the war is over,” he said.

Trump contrasted Russia’s current economic struggles with what he described as America’s record-breaking prosperity. “We have the hottest country in the world, and we have the hottest economy, which has once again set a new record in the stock market. We are getting hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue from tariffs. Russia’s economic condition is not very good, so they can take a decision,” he added.

Assessing Putin’s Motives

Trump suggested that Putin is seeking peace not out of goodwill but due to Russia’s economic vulnerability and the simultaneous slowdown in China’s economy. “I want everyone to be happy. The war should stop and the killing should stop,” Trump said.

When pressed about Russia’s continued military offensives in Ukraine, Trump argued that the attacks may be part of Putin’s negotiating strategy. “He is trying to negotiate. He is trying to create a mental framework that will help him make a better deal. It hurts them, but in their minds, if they can continue killing it will help them negotiate a better deal. Maybe it’s their part of the world, maybe it’s their fabric, their genes, but they think it gives them power to negotiate. I think it hurts him, but I’ll talk to him about it.”

Trump also issued a warning: if Putin shows no interest in ending the war, he will face “serious consequences economically.” This message comes as European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky push Trump to adopt a tougher stance toward Moscow.

NATO Membership Ruled Out for Ukraine

In a notable policy declaration, Trump ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine, instead suggesting that alternative security guarantees could be arranged. “With Europe and other countries, not as NATO—you know some things are not going to happen—but yes, with Europe, there is a possibility,” he said.

Putin is expected to press for recognition of Russia’s territorial gains in Ukraine and relief from Western sanctions. Zelensky, however, has categorically refused to cede any Ukrainian territory and was not invited to this initial round of talks.

A High-Level US Delegation

According to the White House, Trump is accompanied by a senior delegation aboard Air Force One. The traveling party includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Finance Minister Scott Bessant, Commerce Minister Howard Lutnick, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, and Ambassador Steve Witkoff.

A War With Global Ripples

The Alaska talks are being closely watched by governments, investors, and energy markets worldwide. A breakthrough could pave the way for a ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, arms control arrangements, and potentially major shifts in global energy flows. Such an outcome could lower oil and gas prices, ease inflationary pressures, and stabilize trade relations—particularly benefiting energy-importing countries like India.

Conversely, a failure could prolong the conflict, sustain commodity market volatility, and deepen the geopolitical divide between the US and Russia.

As Trump and Putin prepare to sit down, the stakes could hardly be higher. Whether the Alaska summit becomes a turning point in the two-and-a-half-year-old war—or just another diplomatic stalemate—will depend on whether the two leaders can bridge a chasm that has so far defied the world’s best efforts.