U.S. President Donald Trump has set off a storm of speculation after telling supporters, “I’m going to Russia,” just days before his planned August 15 meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. This summit—the first face-to-face between the leaders since Trump’s return to the White House—was expected to focus on ending the war in Ukraine, with Trump hinting at a controversial “territory swap” proposal.
Alaska was chosen for its proximity to Russia across the Bering Strait, but Trump’s new remark has fueled rumors the venue could shift to Russian soil. For Moscow, the meeting is already being hailed as a diplomatic victory, marking Putin’s first U.S. invitation outside the U.N. since 2007. But if the location changes, the optics and stakes could transform overnight, raising fresh questions about U.S. strategy, Ukraine’s voice in negotiations, and Trump’s real intentions.
