Ukraine's President Zelensky asserted that neither Trump nor Putin can make significant decisions without Ukraine's involvement.
The ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its third year, has been a significant focus of international attention. A potential three-way meeting between former US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been proposed as a means to restart peace talks and end the conflict.
The planned summit between Trump and Putin, scheduled to take place in the US state of Alaska, is considered crucial for their bilateral relations. Trump has expressed a desire to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine as soon as possible, and there are signs that he is pushing for diplomacy to achieve this goal.
Zelensky has expressed confidence that a three-way meeting between Trump, Putin, and himself may occur. However, he has also made it clear that no decisions about Ukraine can be made without Ukraine's involvement. This stance is in line with the Ukrainian government's commitment to defending itself against Russian invasion with Western support.
European allies of Ukraine and Kyiv's leadership fear that Putin and Trump could make decisions over Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia. This concern stems from the substantial disagreements between Russia and Ukraine, particularly over territorial disputes such as control over the Donbas region.
Trump initially proposed a trilateral summit with all three leaders but has since shifted toward arranging a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky. White House officials indicated that a direct Putin-Zelensky meeting must occur before any trilateral gathering due to these disagreements.
Russia, however, has been reluctant, not confirming Putin's participation in a direct meeting with Zelensky. Trump has expressed optimism that both Putin and Zelensky will seek peace and offered U.S. support for European security guarantees to Ukraine. However, the exact nature of these guarantees remains unclear.
The meeting between Zelensky, Trump, and Putin (if it occurs) is intended to end the war in Ukraine. The outcomes of these discussions remain uncertain, with Moscow’s demands and Ukraine's territorial stance presenting significant obstacles to scheduling and substantive agreements.
[1] ABC News. (2020, May 29). Trump proposes three-way meeting with Putin and Zelensky to end Ukraine conflict. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/International/trump-proposes-three-way-meeting-putin-zelensky-end-ukraine/story?id=71543557
[2] Reuters. (2020, June 29). Trump, Putin discuss Ukraine, Russia's annexation of Crimea at Alaska summit. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-summit/trump-putin-discuss-ukraine-russias-annexation-of-crimea-at-alaska-summit-idUSKBN23S22Z
- The proposed bilateral meeting between Trump and Putin, scheduled to take place in the US state of Alaska, is a significant part of international politics, especially in the context of war-and-conflicts, as it could potentially influence the ongoing war in Ukraine.
- The planned summit, although initially proposed as a three-way meeting involving Trump, Putin, and Zelensky, has since shifted to a bilateral meeting, raising general-news concerns about Ukraine's territorial integrity and the role each leader may play in resolving the conflict.
