Putin, Trump in high-stakes summit

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met yesterday in Alaska in a high-stakes summit over the future of Ukraine.

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It was Putin’s first visit on Western soil since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and on which Russia has not relented, making rapid gains just before the summit.

Trump extended the invitation at the Russian leader’s suggestion, but the US president has since been defensive and warned that the meeting could be over within minutes if Putin does not compromise.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not included and has publicly refused pressure from Trump to surrender territory seized by Russia.

Trump called the summit a “feel-out meeting” to test Putin, whom he last saw in 2019.

Trump promised to consult with European leaders and Zelensky, saying that any final agreement would come in a three-way meeting with Trump and the Ukrainian president to “divvy up” territory.

But despite repeated calls to Putin, and a stunning February 28 White House meeting in which Trump publicly berated Zelensky, the Russian leader has shown no signs of compromise.

Trump has acknowledged his frustration with Putin and warned of “very severe consequences” if he does not accept a ceasefire but also agreed to see him in Alaska.

Yesterday's talks were held at the Elmendorf Air Force Base, the largest US military installation in Alaska and a Cold War base for surveillance of the Soviet Union. Adding to the historical significance, the US bought Alaska in 1867 from Russia - a deal Moscow has cited to show the legitimacy of land swops.