Alaska is the "most fitting" location for the summit between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, the state's governor has said. Mike Dunleavy posted on X that Alaska's location, which at its closest point is only 2 miles from Russia, makes it "the most strategic location" for the leaders to discuss the war in Ukraine on August 15.

"Undoubtedly, a number of countries interested in continuing the conflict will make titanic efforts to disrupt the planned meeting between President Putin and President Trump," he said in a post in his Telegram account, specifying that by efforts he meant "provocations and disinformation".

The announcement of the August 15 meeting came earlier in the day from Washington and Moscow, with both sides framing it as an opportunity to explore a negotiated end to the fighting.