The Russian Federation is intensifying efforts to establish the so-called 'Anchorage Formula' as the foundational structure for any potential peace agreement concerning Ukraine, referencing an unconfirmed summit with the United States in August 2025. This narrative posits that specific principles, allegedly agreed upon by former President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin regarding territorial matters, must guide future negotiations.
However, reporting from CNN indicates that no concrete accord materialized from the referenced discussions, suggesting the 'formula' functions more as a political construct than an established diplomatic baseline. Actions taken by the US, such as expanding intelligence sharing with Kyiv and imposing sanctions on Russian oil entities like Lukoil and Rosneft, underscore the absence of a breakthrough agreement, according to the analysis.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War suggest the Kremlin is exploiting the ambiguity surrounding past summit summaries to fabricate the appearance of consensus with the United States. This strategy allows Moscow to frame itself publicly as amenable to peace while simultaneously shifting accountability for stalled negotiations onto Kyiv.
When pressed for specifics regarding the formula’s territorial demands—particularly concerning Russian control over the entirety of the Donbas region—Kremlin spokespersons offered deliberately vague responses. Dmitry Peskov, the Russian Presidential Press Secretary, stated that discussing the precise details of the formula publicly would be impractical.
Conversely, American officials acknowledged that Russia's private negotiating positions might allow for greater flexibility than its maximalist public demands suggest. One US official noted that Moscow often presents stringent requirements initially, permitting its teams room to maneuver later in closed-door sessions.
The White House has refrained from validating the existence or substance of the 'Anchorage Formula' when directly questioned. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly responded to inquiries about the formula's definition by advising reporters to direct future questions to the Russian side.
Russia continues to mandate that any future resolution must incorporate this 'Anchorage Formula,' implicitly requiring territorial concessions from Ukraine. This insistence comes as former President Trump recently claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed readiness for a peace deal during a meeting in Davos.
