• US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a previous meeting. (Undated, TASS)

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump will meet in Alaska on August 15, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed to reporters.

"The US side has just announced that an agreement has been reached to organize a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump on August 15, Friday, in Alaska Ushakov said. “

According to him, since they are neighboring ocuntries, it is only "logical" that the Russian delegation fly accross the Bering Strait for such a "important and long-awaited summit" between both leaders. 

Earlier, President Trump had announced via Truth Social his intention to meet Putin in Alaska on that date. It will mark the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

The announcement follows remarks from Ushakov on August 7, confirming that both sides had agreed to a bilateral meeting in the coming days. That same day, President Putin also acknowledged preparations were underway, citing mutual interest in resuming direct dialogue.

The developments came shortly after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow on August 6, where he held a three-hour meeting with Putin.

US Envoy in Moscow for Pre-Summit Consultations

In a related development, President Putin held what the Kremlin described as "constructive" talks with US Special Envoy Steve Whitkoff in Moscow earlier this week.

The three-hour meeting focused primarily on the conflict in Ukraine and explored terms for a potential ceasefire agreement.

According to US media reports, the Trump administration has pushed for direct engagement with Russia to accelerate negotiations aimed at halting hostilities, with a view to bringing both Russia and Ukraine to the table, though Kiev has not confirmed its participation in any future summit.

As the groundwork for a Trump-Putin summit nears completion, European leaders are watching closely. Ukrainian President Zelensky has recently held consultations with EU allies, urging that any peace framework include Ukraine and respect its sovereignty, amid fears that a bilateral US-Russia deal could marginalize Kiev's interests.

Regarding a potential meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Putin said he is not opposed in principle, but noted that "certain conditions must first be prepared," adding that "the current situation is far from ready for such a meeting."

Kremlin officials have reiterated that a trilateral summit involving Zelensky is not currently on the table, given the lack of groundwork and trust.