On the 8th, US President Trump posted on social media that he would meet with Russian President Putin on August 15 in Alaska, which the Russian side later confirmed. According to the Associated Press, this visit to Alaska will mark Putin's first trip to the US in ten years, and it will also be his eighth visit to the US as President of Russia. RIA Novosti added that Putin will be the first Russian leader to visit Alaska.
On August 9, Russian presidential aide Ushakov stated that the focus of the meeting between Putin and Trump in Alaska will be to achieve a long-term peace plan for Ukraine.
According to RIA Novosti's report on the 9th, Putin will be the first Russian leader to visit Alaska. Russian presidential aide Ushakov stated, "Our delegation will fly over the Bering Strait to hold such an important and highly anticipated meeting between the two countries' leaders in Alaska, which is logical."
The Associated Press reported that Putin's last visit to the US was in September 2015, when he met with then-President Obama during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. According to the US State Department, Putin first visited the US as a Russian leader in 2000, when he attended a UN summit in New York and met with then-President Clinton.
The meeting between the US and Russian leaders is the first since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and unlike previous speculations about a third-country meeting location, they chose Alaska, which was once a Russian colony and later purchased by the US. What considerations lie behind this choice?
Land traded by the US from Russia
In the early 18th century, Russian explorer Vitus Bering, dispatched by Tsar Peter the Great, explored the Alaskan coast. Bering's expedition marked the formal beginning of Russian colonization of the region. Russian colonizers established trading posts in Alaska, primarily engaged in the trade of sea otter pelts.
The check issued by the US for the purchase of Alaska (illustration from CCTV news report)
By the mid-19th century, Russia decided to sell Alaska due to financial difficulties and geopolitical considerations. In 1867, US Secretary of State Seward signed a treaty with Russian envoy Stoeckl, in which the US purchased 1.52 million square kilometers of Alaskan territory for $7.2 million. Even today, Alaska remains the largest state in the US, accounting for 20% of the country's total area.
This transaction was initially mocked by the American public as "Seward's folly" or "Seward's icebox," believing this land to be worthless. However, the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896 and subsequent oil discoveries proved its strategic and economic value.
On the same day that Trump announced the meeting in Alaska on the 8th, he also mentioned territorial exchanges while discussing the Russia-Ukraine peace plan: "There will be some territorial exchanges that benefit both parties."
Some foreign media analysts suggest that choosing Alaska as the meeting place may hint at the potential for cooperation between both parties under complex circumstances.
The closest US territory to Russia
Anchorage, Alaska - Reference photo (illustration from CCTV news report)
Alaska is the closest US state to Russia, connected by the Bering Strait, which is only about 88 kilometers at its narrowest point. According to a report by the Russian TASS news agency on the 9th, Russian presidential aide Ushakov stated that the economic interests of Russia and the US intersect in Alaska and the Arctic.
Analysts say that although Alaska is US territory, its remote location can evoke historical memories and reduce political sensitivity.
During Trump's previous presidential term, he and Putin had face-to-face talks in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The Alaska talks will be their first meeting in six years.
After the meeting in Alaska, where will the next talks be held, and who will participate?
Analysts say that the White House chose the meeting location in the US mainland to demonstrate America's dominance, using Alaska as a stage that highlights US power while reflecting historical ties. However, the Russia-Ukraine conflict involves more than just the US and Russia; after this meeting, both countries have expressed their thoughts on where to hold future talks, with whom to meet, and what to discuss.
Russian presidential aide Ushakov - Reference photo (illustration from CCTV news report)
On August 9, Russian presidential aide Ushakov stated that after the meeting in Alaska, the next meeting between Putin and Trump will be held on Russian territory. The Russian side has already extended a corresponding invitation to the US.
Previously, Trump informed European leaders on the 6th via phone that he plans to meet with Putin first and then hold a trilateral meeting with both Putin and Zelensky. The talks will be limited to the leaders of the US, Russia, and Ukraine, and will not include representatives from any European countries.
On the Ukrainian side, there is a strong emphasis on the importance of Europe. On the 7th, Zelensky delivered a video speech stating that Europe's stance is crucial, and Ukraine has engaged in dialogue and meetings with European leaders to reach a consensus.