Washington, D.C. — August 12, 2025

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a strategic phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday, setting the stage for a pivotal summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for Friday in Alaska.

According to the State Department, both diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the success of the upcoming meeting, which was initiated at Putin’s request. The summit is expected to focus heavily on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and prospects for a peace agreement.

Rubio, speaking earlier in a radio interview, emphasized that President Trump views the face-to-face encounter as essential for making a personal assessment of Putin. “For Trump, a meeting isn’t a concession—it’s a necessary step to understand the man across the table,” Rubio said.

While Trump has hinted at a potential territorial compromise between Russia and Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders remain wary. They insist that any peace deal must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and involve Kyiv directly in negotiations.

The White House has described the Alaska summit as a “listening exercise,” signaling tempered expectations for immediate breakthroughs. Ahead of the meeting, Zelensky and EU leaders plan to hold a virtual session with Trump to reinforce their stance on Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

This summit marks the first direct U.S.-Russia presidential engagement since 2021, and global eyes will be on Anchorage as leaders attempt to navigate one of the most complex geopolitical crises of the decade.