Kremlin Confirms Aug. 15 Trump–Putin Summit in Alaska, Eyes Follow-Up in Russia

The Big Picture

Russia and the United States are moving ahead with a high-stakes leaders’ summit amid strained ties. According to TASS, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters that President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump will hold a face-to-face meeting in Alaska on Friday, August 15. It would be their first in-person session since Trump returned to the White House in January.

What’s New

Ushakov said Washington “has just announced” agreement on the date and venue, adding that Alaska is sensible given the countries’ proximity across the Bering Strait. He described the run-up as “a difficult process,” but said Moscow and Washington would work “actively and intensively” to finalize political and practical details. TASS reported that Ushakov also indicated the Kremlin hopes the next encounter after Alaska will be held on Russian soil and that an invitation has already been extended to the U.S. president.

The timing follows a burst of outreach. On August 6, U.S. special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in Moscow. Earlier this week, Trump publicly said he hoped to meet his Russian counterpart in Alaska on August 15. On August 7, Ushakov noted that Russia and the U.S. had agreed to a meeting “in the coming days,” and Putin later confirmed preparations were underway, citing mutual interest in a bilateral session.

What They’re Saying

What’s Next

Officials now face a tight window to lock the agenda, security, and protocol. Alaska offers manageable flight times and neutral optics, but the meeting’s significance will turn on substance — potential steps on Ukraine, bilateral guardrails, or confidence-building measures — and whether talks quickly roll into a second session in Russia, as Moscow hopes.

The Bottom Line

An Alaska summit on August 15 is now on the calendar. With both capitals signaling urgency, the outcome will be judged by concrete deliverables and whether the dialogue gains sustained momentum beyond a single meeting.

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⚠️ This is a developing story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.