This exclusion has caused outrage in Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declaring that his nation “won’t surrender land to the occupier” and warning that “any decisions made without Ukraine are also decisions against peace.”

Here’s what we know about the summit so far:

When and where

During a brief at the White House on Saturday, Trump stated that “there’ll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both” Ukraine and Russia, but offered no additional specifics.

Why Alaska?

“However, the presidents are indeed expected to concentrate on exploring ways to ensure a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis,” he added.

Putin had earlier suggested the United Arab Emirates as a potential location for the discussions, while some media outlets speculated that Turkey, China, or India might be likely candidates for hosting the event.

Why is Ukraine not involved?

Following conversations with Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron asserted, “The future of Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukrainians,” stressing the necessity for Europe’s involvement in the discussions.

In his evening address on Saturday, Zelenskyy stressed: “There must be an honest end to this war, and it is up to Russia to end the war it started.”

When did they last meet?

The last in-person meeting between Trump and Putin occurred in 2019 during a G20 summit in Japan during Trump’s first presidential term. They have had several phone conversations since January.

The last time Putin met a US president in the United States was during talks with Barack Obama at a UN General Assembly in 2015.

Negotiating positions