WASHINGTON: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been sidelined from this week’s high-stakes peace talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the meeting — set for Friday in Alaska — was arranged exclusively at Putin’s request.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday that the purpose of the meeting is for President Trump to gain a clearer understanding of how to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end.
“The president is agreeing to this meeting at the request of President Putin,” Leavitt said. “His goal is to walk away with a better sense of how we can end this war.”
Leavitt emphasized that face-to-face dialogue, rather than remote communication, will help Trump assess the seriousness of Russia’s stance on peace. “Being in the room with President Putin gives President Trump the clearest indication of where this is headed,” she said.
However, President Zelenskyy strongly criticized the move, warning that any peace process that excludes Ukraine is doomed to fail. In a statement on Saturday, he said:
“Any decisions made without Ukraine are decisions against peace. These are dead decisions — they will never work. What we need is a real, living peace that people can respect.”
Zelenskyy’s concerns were echoed by several European leaders, who issued a joint statement affirming that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.”
Despite this, President Trump has signaled that he is open to exploring options, including controversial proposals such as potential “land swaps” between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking on Monday, Trump said he would assess whether Putin is genuinely interested in peace, and that he would share the outcome of the meeting with NATO, EU leaders, and President Zelenskyy.
“If it’s a fair deal, I will present it to our European allies and to President Zelenskyy,” Trump said. “I may say, ‘Lots of luck, keep fighting,’ or I may say we can make a deal.”
Asked whether the meeting is expected to produce a peace agreement or simply test the waters, Leavitt replied that both are possible. “The president has always said he wants a peace deal. But this is a bilateral meeting — between one party in this two-party war,” she noted, adding that “both sides must agree” for any deal to move forward.
The Trump-Putin summit is scheduled for Friday, August 15, in Alaska, marking Putin’s first visit to the US in ten years.
“There were several venues considered, but ultimately Alaska — as part of the United States — was selected,” Leavitt said. “President Trump looks forward to hosting President Putin on American soil.”
