Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday called off a planned meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. He warned that any peace deal excluding Ukraine would only lead to “dead solutions.”
The Putin-Trump summit, scheduled for this Friday in Alaska, had been seen as a possible turning point in the war. It followed weeks of Zelenskyy expressing frustration that global efforts were falling short in stopping the violence.
Ukraine Insists on a Seat at the Table
In a statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine must be part of any talks for peace to last. He said the country’s “constitutionally guaranteed territorial integrity must not be negotiable.” He also declared, “Ukraine will not give Russia any awards for what it has done” and “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.”
His comments reflected fears in Kyiv and Europe that a direct Trump-Putin meeting could sideline Ukrainian interests. Zelenskyy warned, “Any solutions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time, solutions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead solutions, they will never work.”
Behind-the-Scenes Peace Concerns
Privately, Ukrainian officials told the Associated Press they might consider a peace deal that recognizes their current inability to retake occupied territories by force. However, such a deal would not mean accepting Russia’s claims over those lands.
Trump confirmed he will meet Putin to discuss ending the war. “It seems entirely logical for our delegation to fly across the Bering Strait simply, and for such an important and anticipated summit of the leaders of the two countries to be held in Alaska,” Russian state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, as saying.
War’s Toll and Sticking Points
The conflict began over three years ago when Russia invaded Ukraine, causing tens of thousands of deaths. While the Alaska talks may be pivotal, there’s no certainty they will stop the fighting. Moscow and Kyiv remain deeply divided on their peace conditions.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump hinted that an agreement might involve “some swapping of territories,” but he gave no details. Analysts, including those linked to the Kremlin, have speculated that Russia could offer to give up some areas it controls outside the four regions it claims to have annexed.
Europe Watches Closely
Trump said his meeting with Putin would take place before any talks involving Zelenskyy. He had also agreed to meet Putin even if the Russian leader refused to engage with Ukraine’s president, a stance that has worried European allies.
Breaking expectations, Trump decided to host Putin on US soil instead of a neutral location. The move grants the Russian leader a degree of legitimacy, despite efforts by the US and its allies to isolate him over the invasion.