Moscow Stands Firm on Ukraine as Putin-Trump Summit Looms

Moscow remains adamant on its conditions regarding the Ukraine conflict and has no intention of making concessions, according to Russian officials.

The Russian delegation accompanying President Vladimir Putin has already reached its destination, while Putin himself had not yet departed Russian territory at the time of reporting. The flight from Moscow to the U.S. state of Alaska takes about 10 hours — roughly nine hours in Russian airspace and one hour in American skies.

Upon arrival in Alaska, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow was bringing a “clear position” to present to U.S. President Donald Trump during the much-anticipated summit. Lavrov described predicting the outcome as “difficult,” but expressed hope the meeting could achieve shared objectives for both nations. He also hinted the summit’s agenda could extend into the following day if progress is made.

Russian official circles are reportedly optimistic about improving ties with Washington, with speculation about possible new economic and trade agreements. However, Russia remains unwavering in its stance on Ukraine, refusing to budge from conditions it set at the start of its military operation.

This raises questions about what concessions Trump might offer during the talks, which are set to begin at 10:30 p.m. Moscow time. Some analysts suggest the two leaders could discuss a proposal to divide Ukraine into two spheres — eastern Ukraine under Russian control and western Ukraine either integrated into Poland or remaining under the current Ukrainian government, with possible U.S. security guarantees allowing Kyiv to join NATO.

The Ukraine conflict is not the only topic on the table. Discussions are also expected to address nuclear arms control, the U.S. military presence in Europe, and international flashpoints including Syria, Iran, and the future of the Iranian nuclear deal.