Quick Overview
- Today, U.S. President Donald Trump is sitting down with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
- Things kick off at 12:30 PM Pacific Time, with live broadcasts available both on TV and online.
- The main topic? Pushing for a ceasefire, even though terms from Russia and Ukraine are still worlds apart, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy won’t be attending the meeting.
Today, on Friday, August 15, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are locking horns in Alaska for their first in-person summit in four years.
This significant meeting is taking place against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine, and what’s at stake couldn’t be higher.
When Does the Meeting Start?
Schedule
Putin’s foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov has confirmed that the summit launches at 11:30 AM Alaska Daylight Time, which translates to 12:30 PM Pacific and 3:30 PM Eastern Time.
Initially, Trump and Putin will engage in a one-on-one talk before their respective teams join the discussion. Following these proceedings, the leaders are expected to hold a joint news conference.
Where Will They Meet?
This summit is taking place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson just outside Anchorage, signaling a poignant historical context with both nations. It’s essential to note that this marks Putin’s first visit to the U.S. since 2015.
How to Tune In to the Meeting?
For those wanting to participate in this critical discussion live, major news channels will provide ongoing coverage throughout the day, including the press conference.
You can catch the live stream on channels like FOX 13 Seattle, or check out their web streams. You can also stream on fox13seattle.com, the live player on their website, their YouTube channel, or through the FOX LOCAL app available on your smartphones or smart TVs. It’s compatible with systems like Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Vizio, and Samsung.
If you’re on Samsung TV Plus, be sure to check channel 1123 for coverage.
You can also tune into LiveNOW from FOX for continuous updates.
What’s on the Agenda for the Summit?
Diving Deeper
The talks will zero in on finding a workable path toward peace in Ukraine, which has been embroiled in conflict since Russia’s invasion over three years ago.
Trump has warned of “very severe consequences” if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire post-summit.
While Kyiv has signaled its willingness for a ceasefire, Moscow has demanded conditions that Zelenskyy has labeled as unacceptable. These include withdrawing Ukrainian troops from annexed regions, halting mobilization, and freezing arms supplies from the West.
To initiate further negotiations for peace, Putin is also seeking concessions from Ukraine, including the cession of annexed territories and Crimea, dropping NATO membership aspirations, and limiting military forces. Zelenskyy, on his part, wants any peace pact to come with solid security guarantees against Russian hostilities in the future.
It’s worth noting that today’s meeting will only involve Trump and Putin, with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy sidelined, despite earlier hopes for his attendance. The Kremlin has maintained its stance against engaging with Zelenskyy until a peace agreement is reached within this context.
Zelenskyy has expressed confidence in his interactions with Trump and other EU leaders online this week, dismissing Putin’s military threats as mere bluster, asserting that any discussions without Ukraine are simply “against peace.”
French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted a recent virtual meeting, showing that Trump was committed to negotiating a ceasefire, emphasizing that any territorial negotiations must await the approval of the Ukrainian president.
