WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will hold talks in Alaska subsequent Friday (Aug 15) in a bid to finish the struggle in Ukraine, which was triggered by Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
Trump has spent his first months in workplace making an attempt to dealer peace – after boasting he might finish the struggle in 24 hours – however a number of rounds of peace talks, telephone calls and diplomatic visits have didn’t yield a breakthrough.
Here’s what we all know concerning the summit to this point:
WHEN AND WHERE
On his Fact Social web site on Friday, Trump introduced that his assembly with Putin can be held within the far-north US state of Alaska on Aug 15, which was later confirmed by the Kremlin.
The announcement got here after days of each side indicating the 2 leaders would maintain a summit subsequent week.
The Kremlin confirmed the summit in Alaska on Friday, calling it “fairly logical”.
“They wish to meet with me, I will do no matter I can to cease the killing,” Trump mentioned on Thursday, talking of each Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On the White Home on Friday, Trump mentioned “there will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of each” Ukraine and Russia, with out offering additional particulars.
WHY ALASKA?
The assembly will likely be held in Alaska, which Russia bought to the US in 1867.
The western tip of the state just isn’t far – simply throughout the Bering Strait – from the easternmost a part of Russia.
“Alaska and the Arctic are additionally the place our nations’ financial pursuits intersect, and there are prospects for large-scale, mutually useful initiatives,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov mentioned in a press release on Telegram.
“However, in fact, the presidents themselves will undoubtedly concentrate on discussing choices for attaining a long-term peaceable settlement of the Ukrainian disaster,” he added.
Ushakov additionally expressed hope that subsequent time the 2 presidents would meet on Russian territory.
“A corresponding invitation has already been despatched to the US president,” he added.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Putin – which obligates members to detain the Russian chief if he visits their nation – had been thought to slender the potential variety of venues.
Putin had beforehand talked about the United Arab Emirates as a attainable host for the talks, whereas media speculated Turkey, China or India could possibly be attainable venues.
