Donald Trump’s upcoming summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska is generating significant attention as it may influence the ongoing war in Ukraine and the dynamics of U.S.-Russia relations. The meeting, scheduled for Friday, has drawn comparisons to the historic 1985 summit between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Some observers express concern that the meeting could be a strategic maneuver by the Kremlin, while others see it as a potential opportunity for diplomatic progress.

Trump has a complex history with Putin, often praising him in the past. Recently, however, he has expressed frustration with the Russian leader, threatening further sanctions if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump described the Alaska meeting as a “feel-out meeting” to assess Putin’s willingness to negotiate, while also warning of “very severe consequences” if no agreement is reached.

For Putin, this summit represents a chance to mend relations with Trump and alleviate the West’s isolation of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. He has openly stated his desire to rebuild U.S.-Russia ties now that Trump is back in office. Critics, however, argue that the meeting could allow Putin to manipulate Trump’s views to the detriment of Ukraine, whose president was not invited to the summit. Ian Kelly, a former U.S. ambassador, criticized the decision, stating, “I think this is a colossal mistake. You don’t need to invite Putin onto U.S. soil to hear what we already know he wants.”

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham expressed optimism about the summit, asserting that Trump would approach the meeting from a position of strength and prioritize the needs of Europe and Ukraine. He stated, “I have every confidence in the world that the President is going to go to meet Putin from a position of strength.”

The relationship between Trump and Putin has been marked by ups and downs. During his first presidential campaign, Trump cast doubt on U.S. intelligence findings regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election. He famously invited Russian hackers to find missing emails from his opponent, Hillary Clinton, saying, “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.”

Throughout his presidency, Trump met with Putin multiple times, including a controversial summit in Helsinki in 2018, where he appeared to side with Putin over U.S. intelligence agencies regarding election interference. Trump later faced backlash for his comments but maintained a friendly rapport with the Russian leader.

In the wake of the Ukraine invasion, Trump has made mixed statements about Putin, at times praising his strategic moves while also claiming that the conflict would not have occurred if he were still president. He has suggested that he could resolve the war quickly, stating, “I could have the fighting settled within 24 hours.” However, he later clarified that his previous comments were made in jest.

As the summit approaches, Trump has moderated his tone, describing the meeting as a chance to gauge Putin’s intentions rather than a definitive resolution to the conflict. He remarked, “I think it’ll be good. But it might be bad.” The outcome of the Alaska summit remains uncertain, with many watching closely to see how it will impact the ongoing war in Ukraine and the broader geopolitical landscape.