President Donald Trump says he will be meeting with Russia President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next week. He made the announcement on TruthSocial, and it was shared on the social media site X. He said the meeting would be on Aug. 15.
This is a developing story and will be edited throughout the day as information comes in.
US Sen. Dan Sullivan said he talked with the White House earlier on Friday.
“Alaska has been hosting a number of cabinet officials this summer. In June, we hosted his energy team — Sec. Chris Wright, Sec. Doug Burgum and EPA’s Lee Zeldin, and I hosted the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff ‘Raisin’ Cain.’ This week, it was RFK Jr. and the Secretary of Homeland Security on Sunday, and the HUD secretary and Transportation secretary next week. Also the interim commandant of the Coast Guard. Now the president himself,” Sullivan said. “It’s a historic opportunity and it’s appropriate that this is in the most strategic place in the world.”
Congressman Nick Begich commented that “The pursuit of peace requires open dialogue. And it’s encouraging that the dialogue will be occurring at the highest levels here in Alaska, where Russia and America share a historic relationship and geographic proximity. My prayer is that the conversations are productive and result in meaningful progress toward reconciliation.”
History seems to be coming full circle: Russia sold Alaska to the United States in 1867 because the Tsar Alexander II was financially broke due to the war in Crimea, modern day Ukraine. Russia saw Alaska as a financial burden and difficult and expensive to maintain and defend. Now, Trump is meeting with Putin in what is considered, as Sen. Sullivan pointed out, the most strategic location in the world, and they’re likely to be talking about how to resolve the war in Ukraine, which is straining Russia’s finances once again.
“I welcome the upcoming meeting between President Donald J. Trump and Russia’s President Putin being held here in the great state of Alaska. Alaska is the most strategic location in the world, sitting at the crossroads of North America and Asia, with the Arctic to our north and the Pacific to our south. With a mere two miles separating Russia from Alaska , no other place plays a more vital role in our national defense, energy security, and Arctic leadership. What happens in the Arctic and the Pacific impacts Alaska before the rest of the country,” said Gov. Mike Dunleavy. “It’s fitting that discussions of global importance take place here. For centuries, Alaska has been a bridge between nations, and today, we remain a gateway for diplomacy, commerce, and security in one of the most critical regions on earth. The world will be watching, and Alaska stands ready to host this historic meeting.”
Hours later, Sen. Lisa Murkowski wrote darkly of the upcoming meeting: “President Trump announced he will meet with President Putin in Alaska next Friday to continue negotiations to end Russia’s catastrophic war in Ukraine. This is another opportunity for the Arctic to serve as a venue that brings together world leaders to forge meaningful agreements. While I remain deeply wary of Putin and his regime, I hope these discussions lead to genuine progress and help end the war on equitable terms.”
