In a geopolitical gambit reminiscent of a high-stakes game of Risk, U.S. President Donald Trump is heading to Alaska for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. Much like players vying for control of territories on the Risk board, Trump and Putin are positioning their diplomatic armies to secure strategic advantages in a conflict that has reshaped Eastern Europe. The choice of Alaska, a former Russian territory sold to the U.S. in 1867, mirrors the game’s theme of territorial conquest and historical shifts in power. Trump, casting himself as a master dealmaker, aims to broker a ceasefire, potentially involving “land swaps” that could redraw the map of Ukraine, while Putin seeks to solidify Russia’s hold on occupied regions like Donetsk and Luhansk, akin to fortifying key territories to dominate the board. The summit’s outcome could either freeze the front lines or escalate tensions, much like a critical turn in Risk where alliances and betrayals shape the path to victory.

However, the absence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from the summit table introduces a dynamic akin to a Risk player being sidelined while others negotiate over their territories. In the game, a player’s absence from a key alliance meeting can lead to unfavorable outcomes, and Zelenskyy’s exclusion raises fears in Kyiv and among European allies that Trump might concede too much to Putin, potentially legitimizing Russia’s territorial gains. Trump’s suggestion of “land swapping” echoes Risk’s strategic trades, where players might sacrifice smaller territories to secure a stronger position elsewhere, but Ukraine insists any deal without its input is a “dead decision.” Putin, like a seasoned Risk player, may leverage his presence in Alaska to break Russia’s diplomatic isolation, gaining a symbolic victory by merely sitting across from Trump. Meanwhile, European leaders, wary of being outmaneuvered, have held virtual talks to influence Trump’s strategy, much like players forming coalitions to counter a dominant opponent.

The Alaska summit, set at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, carries the weight of a Risk game’s final rounds, where every move could tip the balance toward peace or prolonged conflict. Trump’s approach—emphasizing personal rapport with Putin and a willingness to walk away if the deal isn’t right—parallels a Risk player’s bluffing tactic, projecting strength while gauging the opponent’s resolve. Putin, however, remains steadfast in his demands for Ukraine’s neutralization and retention of seized territories, a strategy akin to holding a continent for bonus armies. The summit’s historical backdrop, with Alaska’s Cold War significance and its proximity to Russia, adds a layer of symbolic tension, as if the board itself were a contested territory. As both leaders roll the diplomatic dice, the world watches to see whether this summit will yield a ceasefire or merely set the stage for the next phase of a protracted global power struggle.