Trump and Putin to conference over peace treaty negotiations, as Zelenskyy declares his absence
In a significant geopolitical development, President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are scheduled to hold a summit this Friday in Alaska. The meeting, which will be the first between the two leaders since President Trump returned to office, has raised concerns in Ukraine, a country that has been embroiled in a conflict with Russia for several years.
Ukraine's main concerns revolve around the lack of Ukrainian participation in the talks and the potential sidelining of Ukraine's interests. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that Ukraine is not prepared to give up any land captured by Russia and emphasized that Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier.
The Ukrainian public is generally skeptical about the summit, with many fearing that the talks might pressure Ukraine to concede territory to Russia without its input. This skepticism is heightened by the fact that Ukraine and its European allies were absent from the discussions, highlighting their marginalization in determining their own future.
Trump reportedly suggested that it is President Zelenskyy's responsibility to "get it done" and that European states need to be more involved, effectively shifting the burden away from the U.S. and Russia. However, Ukraine worries that this could lead to a weakening of Western support and leverage on Ukraine's security.
Moreover, Putin was intransigent on ceasing the war and did not agree to a pause or cease-fire during the meeting, continuing attacks in Ukraine even as talks occurred. This has further fuelled concerns in Ukraine that the summit might not result in a lasting peace.
Zelenskyy has expressed support for President Trump's efforts, stating, "what is needed now is not a pause in the killings, but a real lasting peace." He also made it clear that Ukraine will not reward Russia for its aggression, stating, "we will not reward Russia for what it has perpetrated."
The summit comes at a time when Russia has been increasing its military activities in Ukraine, with multiple drone strikes reported in recent days. An overnight drone strike by Ukraine set off a huge explosion and ignited a major fire in an oil refinery in southern Russia.
In the face of these challenges, Ukraine expects continued Western support and caution regarding any U.S.-Russia arrangements that might undermine Ukraine's sovereignty or security. There is also skepticism about Trump's willingness to maintain sanctions pressure on Russia, which Ukraine sees as critical to resisting Russian aggression.
NPR's Greg Myre is in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, to provide insights on the upcoming summit. As the world watches, the outcome of the Trump-Putin summit could have far-reaching implications for Ukraine and the wider region.
- The Ukrainian public's skepticism about the summit has been heightened by the lack of Ukrainian participation in the talks, and the potential sidelining of Ukraine's interests in discussions related to general-news and war-and-conflicts.
- Ukraine worries that Trump's suggestion for Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to "get it done" could lead to a weakening of Western support and leverage, impacting their politics and transportation security.
