President Donald Trump said he will hold a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 15 August in Alaska, marking the first U.S.–Russia leaders’ summit since 2021. Trump announced the plan at the White House and later confirmed the date and location on social media, calling the session “highly anticipated.” The U.S. leader said the talks are intended to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine and hinted that any agreement could involve “some swapping of territories” such as parts of the Donbas region and Crimea, both currently under Russian control. Trump added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may not be present at the initial meeting but remains engaged in the wider negotiations. Moscow quickly endorsed the plan. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said preparations have begun and that the venue was agreed at Washington’s request. Ushakov also disclosed that Putin invited Trump to visit Russia after the Alaska summit. The bilateral initiative follows a three-hour meeting in Moscow this week between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who outlined a draft ceasefire framework to European officials. News of the impending summit lifted Russian assets: the MOEX equity index jumped more than 5%, while the rouble touched a two-week high against the dollar and China’s yuan. European capitals, however, voiced concern that territorial concessions could reward Russia’s three-year-old invasion, and Kyiv reiterated that any deal requiring it to cede land would need parliamentary or popular approval.