Ukrainian President Zelensky states that Trump and Putin cannot make decisions without Ukraine's involvement
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has been under Russian attack for over three years with Western support for its defense, may soon see a potential resolution as President Donald Trump has initiated calls for a trilateral summit involving himself, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
During meetings in the White House with European leaders on August 18, 2025, Trump expressed optimism about the summit, suggesting that it could lead to a peace deal soon thereafter. However, Putin has yet to agree to meet with Zelensky, and the location for the trilateral meeting remains unspecified.
The ongoing apprehension of European allies and Ukraine's leadership stems from the possibility of decisions being made about Ukraine without its participation. Zelensky has ruled out any decisions on Ukraine being made at the planned USA-Russia summit, asserting that "they can't decide anything about Ukraine without us."
Putin's repeated refusal to meet Zelensky throughout the conflict continues to be a major obstacle. Ukrainian officials and many Western observers remain skeptical that Putin will consent to a direct meeting with the Ukrainian president, as Putin fears the optics of appearing as an authoritarian war criminal facing a democratic leader.
Regarding the format of the meeting, Trump initially indicated he would attend any summit between Putin and Zelensky, but later shifted his stance to propose a Putin-Zelensky meeting first, followed by a trilateral meeting with Trump if necessary. Zelensky publicly supports Trump’s inclusion in any meeting.
The U.S. and European allies are concurrently working on security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent renewed Russian aggression after any potential agreement, a key demand for Kyiv to consider negotiations seriously.
Trump and Putin have expressed a desire to discuss an end to the Russian war against Ukraine. However, these decisions, according to fears expressed, could potentially target Ukraine, which has been under Russian attack. Despite these concerns, recent developments indicate that President Trump's initiative and optimism have revived possibilities for direct high-level talks, even though significant hurdles remain.
The meeting between Trump and Putin, scheduled in the US state of Alaska, is "clearly important for their bilateral relations." The trilateral meeting, aimed at ending the nearly three-and-a-half-year conflict in Eastern Europe, is expected to be a future event, not an immediate one. The situation remains fluid with no firm commitments, and many involved parties view the prospect of a trilateral meeting as challenging but potentially consequential if it occurs.
News of the potential trilateral summit between President Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine has been a general-news topic of discussion. Despite optimism from Trump and expressed desire from both leaders to discuss an end to the conflict, Putin's repeated refusal to meet Zelensky and the unspecified location of the meeting continue to pose significant hurdles. Western observers and Ukrainian officials remain skeptical about Putin's consent to a direct meeting with the Ukrainian president.
