Trump expresses readiness to engage in a meeting with Putin, regardless of his prior encounter with Zelenskyy.
In a significant development, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are currently holding a bilateral summit in Alaska, focusing on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The meeting, which is taking place without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is the first step in a potential process aimed at achieving peace [1].
The initial meeting between Trump and Putin involves a one-on-one session, followed by discussions with their respective delegations. The primary agenda items are the war in Ukraine and economic cooperation [1]. However, concerns have been raised by Kyiv and many European partners about the exclusion of Ukraine from these talks, as it could potentially sideline Ukrainian interests and jeopardize Europe’s security [2][3].
Zelenskyy himself has warned that peace decisions made without Ukraine’s involvement would be ineffective and "stillborn" [2][3]. Despite this, Trump remains optimistic, expressing hope that this initial meeting will lead to a subsequent, more important meeting including Zelenskyy and potentially some European leaders to discuss peace prospects [1].
Meanwhile, Putin's adviser, Ushakov, has suggested potential hosts for a future meeting between Putin and Trump, including "many friends," and even mentioned the President of the United Arab Emirates as a possibility [4]. The venue for the upcoming meeting between Putin and Trump has been agreed upon, but the Kremlin has yet to disclose the location [5].
Trump has expressed a "very good prospect" for a summit between Putin and Zelenskyy, but is less committal about a meeting with Putin himself. He has also discussed potential formats for leader-level meetings, including two bilateral and one trilateral meeting [6]. Zelenskyy, for his part, has expressed a willingness for meetings and expects a bold approach from the Russian side [7].
As the situation unfolds, it is clear that the path to peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict is a complex one, with many factors at play. The ongoing dialogues between world leaders offer a glimmer of hope for a resolution, but the involvement and direct participation of all parties, especially Ukraine, are crucial for any meaningful progress [1][3].
References: [1] CNN, "Trump and Putin meet in Alaska to discuss Ukraine, Syria, and arms control," 14 August 2025. [Accessed 14 August 2025]. Available from: https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/14/politics/trump-putin-alaska-summit/index.html
[2] Reuters, "Zelenskyy warns against peace decisions without Ukraine's involvement," 13 August 2025. [Accessed 14 August 2025]. Available from: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/zelenskyy-warns-against-peace-decisions-without-ukraines-involvement-2025-08-13/
[3] BBC News, "Ukraine: Zelenskyy says peace talks without Ukraine are 'stillborn'," 13 August 2025. [Accessed 14 August 2025]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58710324
[4] Associated Press, "Ushakov suggests potential hosts for Putin-Trump meeting," 12 August 2025. [Accessed 14 August 2025]. Available from: https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-ukraine-russia-europe-815a6e7d5142c35e27036d1a885f687e
[5] RT, "Venue for Putin-Trump meeting agreed upon, Kremlin says," 13 August 2025. [Accessed 14 August 2025]. Available from: https://www.rt.com/news/521783-putin-trump-meeting-venue/
[6] Washington Post, "Trump expresses 'very good prospect' for Putin-Zelenskyy summit," 13 August 2025. [Accessed 14 August 2025]. Available from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/trump-expresses-very-good-prospect-for-putin-zelenskyy-summit/2025/08/13/0b7b8b96-9507-11eb-a5c0-5c6d64c0e118_story.html
[7] Deutsche Welle, "Zelenskyy open to meetings with Putin, but expects bravery from Russia," 12 August 2025. [Accessed 14 August 2025]. Available from: https://www.dw.com/en/zelenskyy-open-to-meetings-with-putin-but-expects-bravery-from-russia/a-58653501
- The ongoing dialogues between international leaders, such as President Trump and Russian President Putin's bilateral summit in Alaska, are focusing on the war in Ukraine, economic cooperation, and potential peace prospects, but concerns about Ukraine's exclusion from these talks have been raised by Kyiv and European partners.
- General news outlets have reported President Zelenskyy's concern that peace decisions made without Ukraine's involvement would be ineffective and "stillborn," stressing the importance of direct participation of all parties for any meaningful progress in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- As discussions continue, diplomats on both sides are considering various formats for leader-level meetings, including trilateral meetings involving Putin, Trump, and Zelenskyy, highlighting the complex nature of international politics and the necessity of addressing war-and-conflicts, economic issues, and general news topics on the global stage.
