WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will maintain talks in Alaska subsequent Friday (Aug 15) in a bid to finish the battle 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 may finish the battle in 24 hours – however a number of rounds of peace talks, cellphone calls and diplomatic visits have didn’t yield a breakthrough.
Here’s what we all know in regards to the summit up to now:
WHEN AND WHERE
On his Fact Social website on Friday, Trump introduced that his assembly with Putin could 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 either 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 want to meet with me, I am going to 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 shall be held in Alaska, which Russia bought to the USA in 1867.
The western tip of the state shouldn’t be 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 tasks,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov mentioned in an announcement 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 Worldwide Prison Courtroom (ICC) arrest warrant for Putin – which obligates members to detain the Russian chief if he visits their nation – had been thought to slim 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 may very well be attainable venues.
