Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin (R)

Is Vladimir Putin ready to end the war in exchange for eastern Ukraine?US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska on August 15 to discuss ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with Trump acting as a negotiator for a possible peace deal.According to a Wall Street Journal report, Putin is prepared to agree to a ceasefire if Ukraine and Nato withdraw from eastern Ukraine. Quoting European and Ukrainian officials, the report says the Kremlin wants control over eastern Ukraine and global recognition of its claims in exchange for ending the fighting. Moscow is demanding four provinces – Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.Trump, speaking at a briefing, said any peace deal would likely involve territory swaps. “But we’re gonna get some [territory] back. We’re gonna get some switched. There’ll be some swapping of territories, to the betterment of both,” he said, without giving more details.He also added, “President Putin I believe wants to see peace.”On Truth Social, Trump posted: “The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin of Russia will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”This will be the first US-Russia summit since 2021, when then-President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva. The announcement came just hours after Trump told reporters he plans to discuss the war with Putin, expressing cautious optimism that “we have a shot” at brokering peace. Earlier, the Kremlin also confirmed the meeting after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in Moscow.