Trump, Putin to meet in Alaska next week – Ukraine, Israel, Gaza on the agenda

JUNEAU, ALASKA — U.S. President Donald J. Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, August 15, marking the first time an American leader has met his Moscow counterpart since June 2021.

The two leaders will meet here in Alaska, though the exact location has not been made public yet.

WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA? 

The main focus of the summit will be to bring an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine that has been raging for nearly three and a half years. 

Trump and Putin are also expected to discuss the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, and the future of the Gaza Strip.

On Thursday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu persuaded his Cabinet to approve a highly- controversial invasion of Gaza City to achieve full military control of the Strip, rescue the hostages, and destroy the terror threat posed by Hamas once and for all. 

The IDF chief of staff reportedly opposed the Netanyahu strategy. 

Most of the world is condemning Netanyahu and his plan.

President Trump, however, has signaled he supports almost whatever Israel feels it must do to defeat Hamas, so long as Israel facilitates far more humanitarian aid to relieve hunger in Gaza.

TOP PRIORITY: ENDING THE WAR IN UKRAINE

“Friday marked the deadline Trump set for Putin to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine or face ‘secondary sanctions,’ against countries that buy oil from Russia,” reported ABC News. “But uncertainty remains as to whether the U.S. will hit Moscow with new economic penalties as focus turns to the one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin. Trump did not comment on the deadline as he took questions from reporters at the White House.”

"The European leaders want to see peace,” Trump told reporters, adding that “Zelenskyy wants to see peace.”

Is Putin truly interested in making peace? Trump was asked at the White House.

"It's gonna be up to him," Trump replied. "We're going to see what he has to say. It's gonna be up to him.”

“We are ready, together with President Trump, together with all our partners, to work for a real and, most importantly, lasting peace – a peace that will not collapse because of Moscow’s wishes,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this morning.

“The Ukrainian people deserve peace,” Zelenskyy continued. “But all partners must understand what a worthy peace is. This war must be ended, and Russia must end it."

“The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday.

“We are going to have a meeting with Russia,” Trump told reporters as he held a peace summit with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

“We'll start off with Russia and we'll announce a location. I think the location will be a very popular one for a lot of reasons. But we'll be announcing that a little bit later. I just don't want to do it now because of the importance of what we just did.”

ALL EYES ON ALASKA 

As it happens, I’ve been in Alaska all week, leading an educational cruise for The Joshua Fund, the ministry my wife and I founded in 2006 to educate and mobilize Christians to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, according to the Abrahamic Covenant found in Genesis 12:1-3.

It’s been such a special time teaching the Word of God with Anne Graham Lotz, and having lots of time for worship and prayer and fellowship.

My colleagues and I have also been briefing our 240 participants on both spiritual and geopolitical events and trends in Israel and the Arab/Muslim world in light of Bible prophecy.

Doing so amidst the spectacular natural beauty of Alaska has been an extra blessing.

But I can’t say I expected to hear that Trump and Putin were coming to Alaska, as well.

In the coming days, all eyes will be on Alaska – and for good reason. 

“This is another opportunity for the Arctic to serve as a venue that brings together world leaders to forge meaningful agreements,” Senator Lisa Murkowski, the Alaskan Republican, wrote on 𝕏. 

“While I remain deeply wary of Putin and his regime, I hope these discussions lead to genuine progress and help end the war on equitable terms.”

Amen – let’s all be praying this week for the end of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.