Face-to-face talks may make some gains, but even the White House has sought to lower expectations since Ukraine’s Zelensky will not be there
The stage is set for what could mark a turning point – or yet another false dawn – in efforts to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic efforts to resolve the grinding Ukraine conflict, now in its fourth year, US President Donald Trump is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin for face-to-face talks in Alaska on Friday.
Security will be extraordinarily tight: airspace over the port city will be closed on Friday and Saturday and the US Secret Service will work closely with Russia’s Federal Protective Service to ensure the leaders’ safety.
Indeed, the meeting’s exact venue has not been officially disclosed, though The New York Times and local media reported that it would be held at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, a combined US Air Force and Army base in Anchorage on Friday.
