Ukraine President Zelensky states that both Trump and Putin cannot make decisions without Ukraine's involvement.
The war in Ukraine, a conflict that has been raging in Eastern Europe for nearly three-and-a-half years, has taken a new turn with former President Donald Trump initiating efforts to arrange a trilateral summit involving himself, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
During a White House meeting on August 18, 2025, where Zelensky and seven European leaders were present, Trump called Putin, expressing optimism about quickly scheduling the summit and eventual peace deal. However, no date or location has been set yet.
Despite Trump's initiatives, Putin has not yet agreed to the proposed trilateral meeting. Instead, he and Trump discussed raising the level of Russian and Ukrainian participation in negotiations without confirming any concrete summit with Zelensky.
A major sticking point complicating the talks is security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent future conflicts. Kyiv insists on firm assurances from its allies, and U.S. and European officials are preparing a detailed proposal to address this.
Zelensky and European leaders have expressed support for the trilateral summit, but Russia's resistance and unresolved issues like security guarantees make the timing and format uncertain. The Kremlin remains skeptical about the talks, possibly using delays as a strategic move. Putin might be reluctant to meet Zelensky directly, considering political optics and the respect implied by such a summit.
In a statement to the news agency RBK-Ukraine in Kyiv, Zelensky ruled out decisions about Ukraine being made without its involvement. He also made it clear that the meeting between Trump and Putin is not where the war in Ukraine will be decided. Zelensky expressed hope that Trump is aware of this and expressed confidence that a trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin, and himself will take place to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump, for his part, has expressed a desire to end the bloodshed in Ukraine as soon as possible. He stated that he would not sign an agreement on the Ukraine war with Putin, as he does not consider it his responsibility. This stance has alleviated fears among Ukrainian officials and European allies that Putin and Trump could make decisions regarding Ukraine without its involvement.
Ukraine has been receiving Western support while defending itself against Russian invasion for over three years. The upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin, scheduled to take place in the US state of Alaska on Friday, is considered important for their bilateral relations. However, the fate of the trilateral summit and the war in Ukraine remains uncertain.
The proposed trilateral summit, involving President Trump, President Putin, and President Zelensky, is a significant development in the politics surrounding war-and-conflicts, particularly the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, Russia's resistance and unresolved issues like security guarantees have made the timing and format of the summit uncertain, as expressed by Ukrainian officials and European leaders.
