Putin-Trump summit: Each side’s true agendas

Trump‑Putin Summit in Alaska: What Hopes Each Side

1. The Stage

On Friday the U.S. and Russian presidents will meet at a U.S. air base in Alaska. It is the first summit between sitting U.S. and Russian leaders in more than four years and the first time Putin will visit a Western country since February 2022.

2. Russia’s Agenda

• Territorial Claims – Russia wants Ukraine to withdraw forces from four regions it claims to annex: Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk.
• Military Restrictions – It seeks a halt to Ukraine’s mobilisation, a renunciation of NATO ambitions and an immediate stop to Western weapons supplies.
• Human Rights & Ideology – Russia demands guarantees for Russian‑speaking populations and an end to what it calls the “glorification of Nazism.” It also wants sanctions to be lifted.

3. Ukraine’s Stance

• Unconditional Ceasefire – Zelensky insists a ceasefire on land, sea and sky is a prerequisite for any peace talks.
• Prisoner & Child Release – Ukraine calls for the release of all prisoners of war and the return of children it says Russia has illegally kidnapped.
• Security Guarantees – It demands that the deal includes no restrictions on the number of Ukrainian troops that can be deployed on its territory and that sanctions can only be lifted gradually.

4. Trump’s Expectations

After promising to end the war within “24 hours” of taking office, President Trump has so far failed to secure any major concessions from the Kremlin. The summit is his first opportunity to broker a deal in person.

5. European Perspective

• Limited Involvement – European leaders have been sidelined from past Russia‑Ukraine talks and the Russia‑U.S. talks in Riyadh.
• Support for Ukraine – Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland and the EU Commission insist that territorial questions can only be negotiated by Ukraine’s president.
• Potential Peacekeepers – Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have signalled willingness to deploy peacekeepers once the fighting ends, a proposal Russia vehemently rejects.

6. Key Take‑aways

• Russia pushes for territorial concessions and a halt to military efforts.
• Ukraine insists on an unconditional ceasefire, prisoner releases, and security guarantees.
• Trump has yet to achieve a breakthrough, but the summit may set the groundwork for a future negotiation.
• Europe remains on a holding pattern, demanding Ukraine’s central role in any resolution.