Trump expresses desire for a three-way gathering with Putin and Zelensky
In the ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the three-year war in Ukraine, US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage on Friday. However, the path to a peace agreement remains fraught with political and territorial hurdles.
Trump's recent summits have been focused on arranging a trilateral meeting with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to advance peace negotiations. Initially, Trump proposed a trilateral summit, but due to political and diplomatic challenges, the focus has shifted to a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky, with Trump potentially joining later.
Russia has been cautious about the proposed meetings, insisting on being included in discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine. Russian interests include control of Donbas and industrial areas in eastern Ukraine. On the other hand, Zelensky firmly opposes ceding any Ukrainian territory and insists that Ukraine must decide its own future. This remains a core obstacle to negotiations.
The Trump Administration portrays itself as uniquely positioned to bring Putin and Zelensky together to negotiate a “full peace deal” to end the ongoing war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that ending the war requires concessions from both sides, and the US is facilitating this dialogue.
The high-stakes summit comes with Trump struggling to broker an end to the conflict. Artem, a 30-year-old serviceman in Kramatorsk, expressed concern that Putin is massing an army, stockpiling weapons, and pulling the wool over their eyes. Ukrainian soldiers in Kramatorsk, an eastern city about 20 kilometers from the front, have low expectations for Trump's meeting with Putin.
Russia made rapid advances in a narrow but important section of the front line in Ukraine on August 12, taking or claiming 110 square kilometers. This heightened fears that Trump and Putin could strike a deal that forces painful concessions from Ukraine. According to an AFP analysis, this was the biggest 24-hour advance into Ukraine by Russian forces in more than a year.
Trump has stated that Russia would face "severe consequences" if it doesn't halt its offensive. However, he has also mentioned that there will be "some swapping" and "some changes in land" during the meeting. The US leader has threatened "secondary sanctions" on Russia's trading partners over its attack on Ukraine, but no measures have been announced.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen stated that Europe, the United States, and NATO had strengthened the common ground for Ukraine. NATO head Mark Rutte declared that "the ball is now in Putin's court". The proposed meeting is aimed at ending the three-year war in Ukraine, but whether it will lead to progress toward a peace agreement or continued diplomatic deadlock remains to be seen.
As of August 2025, there has not yet been a three-way meeting between Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Volodymyr Zelensky. The dialogue remains in preliminary stages, with significant political and territorial issues unresolved. The outcome of the upcoming meeting in Anchorage will be closely watched by both sides and the international community.
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