President Trump plans to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Friday in Alaska. The focus of their high-stakes summit will be to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine, which Russia invaded in 2022.
Mr. Trump has sought to broker peace in a conflict he once boasted he could resolve in a day. He has expressed frustration with Mr. Putin recently over what he described as the Russian leader’s “meaningless” gestures toward peace. But Ukraine, whose president wasn’t invited to the talks, and its European allies are worried about any deal that might be struck without Kyiv’s involvement.
Here’s what to know about the summit.
When are Trump and Putin meeting?
The Kremlin said the meeting would begin at 11:30 a.m. local time (3:30 p.m. Eastern) on Friday. Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin will first hold a “tête-à-tête” discussion with interpreters, it said, followed by negotiations by delegations and “a working breakfast.”
The two leaders are expected to hold a joint news conference at the end, the Kremlin added. The New York Times plans to livestream the news conference.
Where is the summit?
The leaders plan to meet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.
Mr. Trump has visited the base several times since he first took office in 2017, but Friday’s trip will be the first stop in Alaska of his current term. A White House official familiar with the planning of the event told The New York Times that holding the meeting on the base would make it easier for Mr. Trump to make a one-day trip. An American military base offered extra security, the official said.
Alaska has deep ties to Russia, which colonized the region in the 18th century. In 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million, but Russian-speaking communities remain in the state.
What is expected to come out of it?
Mr. Trump dimmed expectations for a possible breakthrough with Mr. Putin, saying on Monday that he was going to see “what he has in mind” and would judge “if it’s a fair deal.”
He added, “I may leave and say good luck, and that’ll be the end.”
Trans-Atlantic discussions on Wednesday that included President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine were held to close ranks with Mr. Trump ahead of the Friday meeting. European leaders said that they had hammered out a strategy with Mr. Trump, including an insistence that any peace plan must start with a cease-fire and not be negotiated without Ukraine at the table.
Will Zelensky be there?
No, Mr. Zelensky was not invited. The talks are expected to be one on one between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin, said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary.
Mr. Zelensky and European leaders have cautioned that Mr. Putin could try to drive a wedge between the United States, Ukraine and its European allies.
Mr. Trump said on Wednesday that he would call Mr. Zelensky, then European leaders, after the Alaska meeting.
Ashley Ahn covers breaking news for The Times from New York.
The post The Trump-Putin Meeting: What to Know appeared first on New York Times.
