France, Aug. 14 -- Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska on Friday for talks on ending the war in Ukraine, and to revive their diplomatic and economic ties. It's a first-of-a-kind summit in a location loaded with history, symbolism and strategic importance.

While Trump told reporters on Monday that he was "going to Russia on Friday" to meet with Putin, Alaska has been part of the United States since 1867 - when Russia sold it for$7.2 million.

The US state lies just 53 miles from Russia across the Bering Strait at its narrowest point, between Russia's Chukchi Peninsula and Alaska's Seward Peninsula. There is a 21-hour time difference because the International Date Line runs through the strait.

The talks will mark the first...