International Leaders Gather for Virtual Conference Before Trump-Putin Face-to-Face Encounter, Including Trump, Zelenskyy, and Representatives from NATO Countries.
In the lead-up to the highly anticipated Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, the future of Ukraine's NATO membership, security guarantees, and the direction of U.S. support are at the forefront of discussions.
Public optimism in Ukraine for joining NATO within the next decade has significantly dropped from 69% in 2023 to 32% in 2025, reflecting growing uncertainty about Ukraine's long-term security and international integration.
During the early stages of diplomacy in 2025, President Trump expressed scepticism about Ukraine's role in the ongoing conflict and signalled reluctance towards NATO membership for Ukraine. Instead, he proposed robust security guarantees short of full membership, emphasising the responsibility of Europe in supporting Ukraine.
At a high-level meeting in August 2025, key European leaders proposed security guarantees for Ukraine similar to NATO's Article 5 collective defence clause. However, Trump paused the meeting to brief Putin privately, indicating the complex, behind-the-scenes negotiation dynamics.
NATO itself is grappling with strategic and operational challenges, balancing deterrence against Russia's ongoing rearmament with uncertain consensus on priorities and long-term leadership. The Trump administration's approach appears to focus on defining clear peace terms at NATO summits, proposing limits on Western military aid to Ukraine, and urging European allies to shoulder more of the burden.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concerns that diplomatic discussions led by the U.S. have not addressed key Ukrainian demands, including security guarantees and Europe's inclusion in negotiations. He has reiterated that Ukraine will not give up any territory it controls.
General Sir Richard Shirreff believes that the meeting between Trump and Putin will not lead to an end of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems and is convening a series of virtual meetings to have the voices of European and Ukrainian leaders heard ahead of the summit.
Zelenskyy is expected to meet with European leaders first, followed by a virtual call with Trump and Vice President Vance. Trump plans to establish an in-person meeting involving Putin and Zelenskyy. He has stated that he wants to assess Putin's intentions about ending the war, now in its fourth year.
These complex geopolitical dynamics underscore the significance of the upcoming summit and the concerns surrounding Ukraine and NATO's role in the ongoing negotiations. The Europeans and Ukraine are wary that Putin might secure favourable concessions and set the outlines of a peace deal without them.
Discussions about Ukraine's NATO membership and security guarantees continue to dominate political news, given the complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska. The European leaders have proposed security guarantees for Ukraine similar to NATO's Article 5, while President Trump has shown scepticism towards Ukraine's NATO membership and suggested robust security guarantees instead.
The general news in Europe and Ukraine is filled with concerns that Putin may secure favorable concessions without their involvement in the upcoming summit, casting doubt on Ukraine's long-term security and international integration.
