As Trump prepares to meet Putin, prospects for peace in Ukraine war seem slim

The stage is set for what could mark a turning point – or yet another false dawn – in efforts to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.

In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic efforts to resolve the grinding Ukraine conflict, now in its fourth year, US President Donald Trump is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin for face-to-face talks in Alaska on Friday.

Security will be extraordinarily tight: airspace over the port city will be closed on Friday and Saturday and the US Secret Service will work closely with Russia’s Federal Protective Service to ensure the leaders’ safety.

Indeed, the meeting’s exact venue has not been officially disclosed, though The New York Times and local media reported that it would be held at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, a combined US Air Force and Army base in Anchorage on Friday.

While observers worldwide fixate on how the summit might shape the war in Ukraine – and possibly scramble the geopolitical landscape – the White House has worked to temper expectations.

On Tuesday, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, acknowledged that with “only one party” present, a deal was not possible.

Despite strong objections from Kyiv and Brussels, neither Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky nor any EU official will take part in the talks. The White House said that Zelensky was not included because the invitation to meet came directly from Putin.