Zelensky states that the meeting between Trump and Putin carries significance solely for Russia-U.S. diplomatic ties.
In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, efforts towards peace talks have been in the spotlight recently, with the scheduled meeting between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump on August 15 in Alaska. However, the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in this meeting has been revised, as he will not attend.
Despite this, Trump has expressed his intention to arrange a trilateral summit involving Putin, Zelensky, and himself in the future. However, Putin has not yet agreed to this idea.
In the meetings themselves, Zelensky appeared more formal and diplomatic than in previous encounters, signaling a more serious and cordial approach with Trump. The tone was notably different from an earlier troubling meeting in Alaska where Trump and some Americans seemed to favor Russia’s position, implying Ukraine should accept disproportionate territorial concessions. However, Zelensky avoided endorsing this position, signaling caution about such terms.
The meeting between Putin and Trump is focused on their bilateral relations, as stated by Zelensky. He believes that President Trump understands the meeting's significance. The U.S., through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has emphasised the goal is a full peace deal ending the war, not just a ceasefire, and acknowledges the complexity since each side must both give and receive concessions. The U.S. role is described as unique in its ability to bring Putin to the negotiating table.
Russia has not confirmed any direct meeting with Zelensky but acknowledged that Trump and Putin discussed possibly raising the level of negotiation representation. Analysts highlight that a Putin-Zelensky meeting is complex and uncertain—its occurrence would be historically significant but depends on multiple political calculations.
As of August 18, 2025, while efforts towards peace talks are underway, Putin’s agreement and concrete negotiation results have not materialized. No information has been given about any potential outcomes or agreements that might be reached during the meeting between Putin and Trump. The meeting is not expected to result in decisions regarding the war in Ukraine.
No further details about a potential trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky have been provided. The situation remains fluid, and while efforts towards peace talks are ongoing, the future of these negotiations remains uncertain.
The focus of the meeting between Putin and Trump is their bilateral relations, with a stated goal of achieving a full peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, contrasting with earlier meetings where some Americans seemed to favor Russia’s position. However, the potential for a trilateral summit involving Putin, Zelensky, and Trump remains uncertain, as Putin has not yet agreed to this idea.
