The Times Lists Five Flashpoints for Trump-Putin Summit in Alaska
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could address a range of contentious issues during their upcoming summit in Alaska.
The Gaze reports this, referring to The Times.
1. Donbas for Southern Ukraine Lands
Trump has previously hinted that he wants Ukraine to regain some of its “coastal property,” apparently referring to Russian-occupied areas in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.
The Times suggests these territories could be swapped for Ukrainian-controlled parts of Donetsk region. However, analysts note it is unlikely that Putin would relinquish his gains along the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, which secure a land corridor to Crimea.
2. Security Guarantees for Ukraine
Putin insists that Ukraine must never join NATO, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks security guarantees tied to the Alliance. Trump’s challenge would be to find a formula that meets Kyiv’s needs while remaining acceptable to Moscow.
3. Return of Abducted Ukrainian Children
The issue of Ukrainian children illegally deported to Russia could also arise. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said humanitarian matters should be resolved directly between Moscow and Kyiv.
4. US Missiles in Europe
Putin may push Trump to reverse the decision to station US missiles in Germany and seek to reshape Europe’s post-Cold War security architecture in Russia’s favor.
5. Mineral Resources and Sanctions Relief
Trump could pursue a deal modeled on his earlier mediation between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, which granted US mining companies preferential access to rare earth minerals.
Russia’s vast oil and gas reserves may also be on the table, with the Kremlin reportedly offering US firms the chance to resume drilling in Russia as part of any broader agreement.
Putin is expected to push for easing existing sanctions on Russia and rolling back recent US tariffs on imports from India. He may also seek assurances against similar measures targeting China, a major buyer of Russian oil.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expects the upcoming meeting between Putin and Trump in Alaska to open a genuine path to honest peace and substantive trilateral talks involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia.