Ekaterina Girnyk11:47, 09.08.25

For the visit to take place, the US Treasury Department will likely have to lift sanctions against the Russian leader.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin were expected to meet on neutral territory, perhaps Saudi Arabia or the UAE. But the Russian leader has agreed to travel to Trump’s home turf, Alaska . And as Sky News ‘ Ivor Bennett writes, the meeting would be a “massive victory” for the Russian leader, even if Trump believes it is a show of strength.

The United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court, so Putin is not at risk of arrest. But for the visit to take place, the U.S. Treasury Department would likely have to lift sanctions on the Kremlin leader, as it did when his investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev flew to Washington in April. And that points to one reason Putin agreed to the Alaska summit, the article notes.

“Instead of imposing sanctions on Russia, as Trump has threatened in recent days, the US will lift them. Even if it is temporary, it would be highly symbolic and a huge victory for Moscow. The American leader may think he has everything under control – a peacekeeping president ordering a belligerent aggressor into his territory – but the visuals are more than satisfying for Putin. It would be a decisive end to his international isolation,” Bennett writes.

In addition, as a result of the meeting, Putin will get what he wants – the opportunity to divide neighboring territories without Kyiv’s participation.

“And that’s another reason why Putin would agree to a summit, no matter where it takes place. Because it’s a real opportunity to achieve his goals.”

For Russia, it’s not just about territory. It also wants Ukraine’s permanent neutrality and a limited military – part of a geopolitical strategy to prevent NATO expansion. In recent months, despite mounting pressure from the US, Moscow has shown no intention of ending the war until these demands are met. And Vladimir Putin may see the summit with Donald Trump as his best chance to achieve them.

Trump and Putin meeting

Trump had previously said he would meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin  next Friday, August 15, 2025, in Alaska . This was later confirmed by Putin aide Yuri Ushakov.

The Wall Street Journal writes that Putin’s offer to Trump includes ” significant territorial concessions ” from Ukraine. In particular, Russia demands that the entire territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions be handed over to it.

(C)UNIAN 2025