Donald Trump will meet Vladimir Putin in Alaska on 15 August to discuss an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. The White House confirmed the summit after Trump told reporters the talks could involve changes to Ukraine’s borders through territorial exchanges. The meeting will be the first between the two leaders since Trump’s return to office and comes amid increasing pressure to find a resolution to the conflict. The Kremlin confirmed the Alaska venue and called the talks an opportunity for a long-term settlement. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has rejected any arrangement involving the cession of territory. He said Ukraine’s constitution prohibits the transfer of land and stressed that no agreement made without Kyiv’s participation would be legitimate. Ukrainian officials stated they were not invited to the Alaska talks and described such exclusion as unacceptable. Kyiv maintains that all occupied territory, including Crimea, must be returned as part of any peace process. In the days before the announcement, Zelenskiy intensified diplomatic outreach to European leaders to secure backing against territorial concessions. He held calls with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and leaders in the Baltic states. Those governments reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, saying any peace plan must be based on those principles. European Union officials have also expressed unease over the reported framework of the Alaska discussions. Diplomats in Brussels said that proposals involving land swaps could set a dangerous precedent for international conflicts and undermine the rules-based order. They warned that bypassing Ukraine in the process risked weakening Western unity and could complicate further military and financial assistance to Kyiv. The Alaska summit follows months of intermittent contacts between Washington and Moscow, including lower-level meetings in neutral locations. Previous rounds have focused on prisoner exchanges, humanitarian corridors and limits on certain weapons systems. The proposed territorial component marks a significant escalation in the scope of the talks. Neither government has released an official agenda, but both have signalled that Ukraine will be the central topic. Kremlin officials said they view Alaska as a suitable location due to its geographical proximity and symbolic neutrality. Russian media reported that the delegation will include senior military and foreign ministry figures. The White House has not disclosed its full negotiating team but confirmed that senior national security and State Department officials will attend alongside the president. Zelenskiy has urged allied nations to keep military support flowing in the lead-up to the talks. Ukraine is preparing for potential escalations on the front lines and continues to press for additional air defence systems and ammunition. Western capitals are monitoring troop movements in eastern Ukraine for signs that Moscow could use battlefield gains as leverage in Alaska....