Trump signals peace talks with Russia ahead of Alaska summit

Trump signals US role in substantive talks between Russia and Ukraine ahead of the Alaska summit, hinting at possible territorial considerations.

Trump pushes peace talks as US weighs territorial returns to Ukraine

US President Donald Trump said the United States could help facilitate substantive peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to end the war, ahead of the August 15 Alaska summit with Russia. He emphasized that a deal should involve both sides and that Washington would not pursue a brokered agreement that excludes Ukraine. He also suggested that some Ukrainian territories could be addressed in talks and that he would brief Ukrainian and European leaders about the discussions. These remarks come as the Kremlin maintains tough terms while Moscow looks to leverage diplomacy for concessions.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian and Western officials watch closely as Russia presses tactical advances around Dobropillya and continues a drone-heavy campaign to disrupt Ukrainian supply lines. ISW assessments note that Russia seeks to gain informational advantage before the Alaska meeting, while Ukraine pursues long-range strikes against Russian defense-industrial targets. The coming days are likely to test whether diplomacy can coexist with continued fighting and whether Western support remains steady enough to deter a broader Russian push. The report also underscores that long-range talks will need clear safeguards to prevent a renewal of hostilities after any agreement.

Diplomacy in this moment is a high-stakes balancing act. A peace process led by the United States could push Ukraine to accept concessions, even as Kyiv insists on security guarantees and territorial integrity. The risk is that a framework signed under pressure may legitimize gains achieved on the battlefield without durable protections. Western allies must insist on verifiable ceasefires, robust monitoring, and irreversible safeguards to keep Ukraine from being squeezed into a frozen conflict.

At the same time, Russia has signaled it will test the appetite for concessions right up to, and perhaps beyond, the Alaska talks. Putin’s team appears ready to frame any deal as a stepping stone rather than a termination of hostilities, while Kremlin messaging seeks to undercut Western unity. The challenge for the United States and its partners is to keep Ukraine at the center of negotiations while avoiding a narrative that peace comes at Ukraine’s expense. Sustained economic pressure and credible military support remain essential to maintaining leverage.

Highlights

Diplomacy will test eastern Europe’s resilience as much as it tests maps and treaties.