The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump will host Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, Aug. 15, at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. The one-on-one encounter will be the first in Trump’s second term and the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since 2018. Officials say the discussion will focus on ending Russia’s three-year war in Ukraine. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has described the session as a “listening exercise,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a “feel-out meeting,” stressing that Washington is offering no concessions in advance. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg Television that Trump will make clear to Putin that “all options are on the table,” including further sanctions, if negotiations falter. Elmendorf–Richardson—home to U.S. Alaska Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s regional headquarters—was chosen for its security and logistical advantages during Alaska’s peak tourist season. Hosting the summit on U.S. soil also allows Putin to avoid airspace where an International Criminal Court warrant could be enforced, underlining the geopolitical sensitivities surrounding his travel. Trump is scheduled to confer virtually with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders on Aug. 13 to coordinate positions before the summit. Russian troop movements in eastern Ukraine earlier this week have heightened expectations, but U.S. officials caution that Friday’s meeting is intended to gauge prospects for future negotiations rather than produce an immediate cease-fire.