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Russia is heading into its high-profile summit with the United States in Alaska with a clear and well-prepared stance, officials say
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that Moscow is entering the talks with strong arguments and a defined position. “We do not make any assumptions in advance. We know we have arguments, and our position is clear. We will present them,” Lavrov said. He noted that U.S. Special Envoy Stephen Witkoff, speaking on behalf of President Donald Trump, has already laid important groundwork for the discussions. “We hope that tomorrow we will continue this very useful conversation,” Lavrov added.
The summit itself is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. local time in Alaska on August 15, according to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. It will open with a private one-on-one meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, attended only by interpreters, before continuing with negotiations over a working breakfast. The agenda for the meeting has already been finalized, and the talks will take place at a facility within the Elmendorf-Richardson Joint Military Base.
Ushakov confirmed that the resolution of the Ukrainian crisis will be the primary focus of the summit. The leaders will use a “5 to 5” negotiation format, and the length of the discussions will depend on how the conversation develops. Both presidents are expected to appear together in front of the media to discuss the outcomes, and the Russian delegation will return to Moscow immediately after the summit concludes.
As geopolitical tensions continue to shape international relations, analysts say the Alaska summit represents a critical opportunity for dialogue between the two nations, with both sides entering the talks cautiously but purposefully.
