USA Russia summit: Alaska summit: Can Trump Putin for Peace?

US President Donald Trump in the state of Alaska will receive the Russian head of state Vladimir Putin for the first time since his return. The Kremlin boss, who has been waging a war against Ukraine for almost three and a half years, can book it in advance as a success that Trump brings him back onto the world stage. Ukraine and Europeans are left out at the meeting. Questions and answers about the situation in the war and the chances of success of the meeting:

Why and where do Trump and Putin meet?

As he has announced again and again, Trump wants to end the Russian attack war against Ukraine as quickly as possible. He demands a ceasefire. After several phone calls to Putin, he now wants to get an impression on four eyes whether the Kremlin boss is ready for peace – and under what conditions.

After meeting the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj and European allies several times, Trump welcomes Putin in the US state of Alaska. The meeting should take place in the city of Anchorage – according to the media at the Elmendorf -Richardson military base.

The place is ideal for Putin because Russia has a common border with the United States in the far east – and for security reasons, it is happy to do without the integration of third countries. In addition, he does not face an enforcement of the arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court in the Hague because the United States does not recognize the instance. And: Alaska is former Russian area, sold to the United States at times – so historically familiar.

What can Trump decide in the war – and how can he put pressure on the warring parties?

Trump gave his predecessor Joe Biden a complicity at the beginning of the large -scale Russian invasion in Ukraine in February 2022. Putin also supported this thesis – he has long seen the United States as the most important “sponsor”, ie sponsor, of the conflict. Trump cannot end the war.

However, the US President has means of pressure such as sanctions against Russia. A complete stop of the military support would be possible against Ukraine, as was briefly done in March. In addition, the United States could also provide the provision of information data, which would be difficult to replace from the other Ukrainian allies. The Ukrainian army would be practically blind, the continuation of the war would be more and more difficult for them. Ukraine could threaten the loss of its state area.

Trump brought a “area exchange” into play for a war end – what is it all about?

Russia has repeatedly made it clear that the annexed Ukrainian areas did not give it and also anchored in its constitution as new regions. Moscow made the proposal in a memorandum that the Ukrainian armed forces completely withdraw from the areas of Luhansk, Donetsk, Saporischschja and Cherson – as a condition for an armistice. At the same time, Russia is threatened with further conquests if Kyiv want to continue the fight. Many Russian war advocates hope for conquests, for example, the big cities of Kharkiw and Odessa.

So far, Moscow has completely checked the Black Sea Peninsula Crimea in 2014 and the Luhansk region almost completely checked. There are still around 30 percent in the Donetsk area, including large cities such as Slowjansk and Kramatorsk, under Ukrainian control – according to estimates, over 7,600 square kilometers. Moscow should not move away from the Crimea and Luhansk – the same applies to Donetsk, Saporischschja and Cherson. However, it is speculated that Russia could give up parts of the Ukrainian areas of Sumy, Kharkiw, Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolajiw. These include less than 2,000 square kilometers.

In the annexed regions of Saporischschja and Cherson, more than 50 percent are under Russian control, but Kiev continues to say in the area capitals.

How does Ukraine be a waiver of territory?

The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj has repeatedly excluded reference to the constitution to do without areas. He also warned against rewarding the aggressor through such a gift and encouraging it to new conquests. However, some politicians, including Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko, consider it likely to consider that Ukraine will in fact be recognized for peace with Russia.

However, a legally effective waiver of territory is currently incomprehensible. NATO general secretary Mark Rutte also said that Russia controls parts of Ukraine. A recognition of international law as Russian, as Moscow demands, is considered excluded.

With what goals and offers does Putin go to the summit?

Putin primarily wants to normalize Russian-American relationships, including good economic business for both sides. The Ukraine conflict is an obstacle – and he would like to have Trump holds out completely or there is a solution in the sense of Moscow. Putin said several times that Russia as the largest country is not about new areas, but about the elimination of the basic causes of the conflict. Specifically, he demands that Ukraine do without NATO accession and guarantees its Russian-speaking population far-reaching rights.

Putin categorically rejects a unconditional and all -encompassing ceasefire from Ukraine and Trump. For example, he demands an end to western arms deliveries to Ukraine and a stop of mobilization in the country. In conversation with Trump, however, he should once again offer a ceasefire for air strikes. This could be an expansion of the fire break, as it was scheduled for drone and rocket attacks on energy systems in spring.

A ceasefire for airspace should be of interest to Russia because Ukraine recently systematically successful blows against oil processing companies, fuel deposits, train systems and ammunition stores. In addition, the Russian aviation complains of major losses because airports have to temporarily stop operating due to the risk of drone.

What about the direct negotiations of the Russians and Ukrainians about an end to the war?

Since Trump took office, there have been direct negotiations between Russians and Ukrainians for the first time since 2022. Under the mediation of Türkiye, the warring parties in Istanbul agreed to exchange prisoners of war and corpse of soldiers. The return of Ukrainian children, whose deportation to Russia Kiev complains, is also to be continued. Moscow strives for the process and proposed to create three working groups to political, military and humanitarian questions.

What could a peace process look like from the perspective of Ukraine?

President Selenskyj has repeatedly had big peace conferences organized with western allies – but without the participation of the Russians and without tangible results. It continues to exist on an unconditional ceasefire to start a negotiation process on the withdrawal of Russian troops.

From a Ukrainian perspective, a peace agreement also requires security guarantees on the part of the western partners. This could be done in the form of NATO accession or by bilateral assistance – it is the central question for an end to the war and the future European security architecture. In addition, the Ukrainian leadership expects Russian reparation payments for reconstruction of destroyed cities and villages as well as the persecution of Russian war crimes. In the current military situation in Ukraine, however, these ideas are more considered unrealistic.

How is the situation on the front currently?

The Ukrainian troops are under massive pressure on several front sections in East and South Ukraine. The lack of soldiers due to problems in recruitment and common escape escape leads to Russian regional profits.

Shortly before the summit in the United States, the Ukrainian group at the cities of Pokrowsk and Myrnohrad threatens to encirclement in the eastern Ukrainian area of Donetsk. The situation at the city of Kostjantyniwka, which is located northeastern, is also increasingly deteriorating. If the Russian army expands a recent front break between Kostjantyniwka and Pokrowsk and which can overcome almost 40 kilometers to the Charkiw area, the remaining north of the Donetsk region is at risk. Defense positions around the cities of Slowjansk and Kramatorsk for years would be at risk from the West – and not as expected from the east. Logistics in the remaining government areas would be interrupted.

According to Ukrainian information, Russian soldiers are already back in the city of Kupjansk, which was only recaptured by the Ukrainians in 2022. In the Saporischschja area in the South Ukrainian area, the Russian side of Kamjanske was able to conquer and approach the area capital. Successful Ukrainian counterattacks are relatively unlikely due to lack of reserves.

What’s next after the summit – is peace in sight at all?

According to Kremlangaben, a follow -up meeting with Putin in Russia has already been agreed. Both sides also have atomic armor questions on their agenda. The US President himself has announced that after the summit, Selenskyj and the Europeans. It is open whether and how further negotiation steps will be agreed for a ceasefire and real peace associations. Trump wants Putin and Selenskyj to meet – he would also get there if you need him.