US President Donald Trump has declared the stakes “high” ahead of his much-anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, the first visit by the Russian leader to the West since the Ukraine war began in February 2022. Posting on Truth Social before boarding Air Force One, Mr Trump said his mission was to “get Putin to the table,” stressing, “I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine.”

Speaking to reporters mid-flight, Mr Trump said the aim was to end the war and save lives, warning Russia of “severe economic consequences” if no agreement was reached. While he confirmed land exchange would be discussed, he insisted it was “up to Ukraine” to decide. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, excluded from the Alaska summit, urged Washington to press Moscow to halt its “invasion,” declaring, “It is time to end the war.”

The US delegation includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The meeting, to be held at Elmendorf Air Force Base at 1900 GMT on Friday, carries symbolic weight, Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867, a historical reference some in Moscow cite to justify land swaps.

Mr Trump has described the talks as a “feel-out meeting” to test Putin, warning they could end “within minutes” if no compromise emerged. He promised that any final settlement would follow a three-way meeting with Mr Zelensky and European leaders to “divvy up” territory.

For India, the geopolitical implications are significant. Speaking to NDTV, US economist Jeffrey D. Sachs cautioned New Delhi against being drawn into Washington’s strategic rivalries. “The United States uses other countries… India should not allow itself to be used by the US in its misguided trade war with China,” he warned.

All eyes now turn to Alaska, where every handshake and headline could shape the war’s next chapter.

US President Donald Trump has declared the stakes “high” ahead of his much-anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, the first visit by the Russian leader to the West since the Ukraine war began in February 2022. Posting on Truth Social before boarding Air Force One, Mr Trump said his mission was to “get Putin to the table,” stressing, “I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine.”

Speaking to reporters mid-flight, Mr Trump said the aim was to end the war and save lives, warning Russia of “severe economic consequences” if no agreement was reached. While he confirmed land exchange would be discussed, he insisted it was “up to Ukraine” to decide. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, excluded from the Alaska summit, urged Washington to press Moscow to halt its “invasion,” declaring, “It is time to end the war.”

The US delegation includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The meeting, to be held at Elmendorf Air Force Base at 1900 GMT on Friday, carries symbolic weight, Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867, a historical reference some in Moscow cite to justify land swaps.

Mr Trump has described the talks as a “feel-out meeting” to test Putin, warning they could end “within minutes” if no compromise emerged. He promised that any final settlement would follow a three-way meeting with Mr Zelensky and European leaders to “divvy up” territory.

For India, the geopolitical implications are significant. Speaking to NDTV, US economist Jeffrey D. Sachs cautioned New Delhi against being drawn into Washington’s strategic rivalries. “The United States uses other countries… India should not allow itself to be used by the US in its misguided trade war with China,” he warned.

All eyes now turn to Alaska, where every handshake and headline could shape the war’s next chapter.