Trump Meeting with Zelenskyy, EU Leaders Before Putin Alaska Summit/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Zelenskyy, European Leaders Confer Before Trump-Putin Alaska Summit/ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European leaders in Berlin before joining a virtual meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Alaska meeting will exclude Ukraine, raising concerns among Kyiv and EU capitals. Zelenskyy insists no peace can be reached without Ukraine’s direct involvement.
Zelenskyy–Trump–Putin Talks Quick Looks
- Zelenskyy arrives in Berlin for talks with German chancellor and EU leaders.
- Leaders meet virtually with Trump and VP JD Vance ahead of Alaska summit.
- Wednesday meetings aim to “make clear the position of the Europeans.”
- Ukraine and EU excluded from Trump-Putin bilateral meeting.
- Zelenskyy warns Russia shows “no sign” of ending the war.
- Trump calls Alaska talks a “feel-out meeting” with Putin.
- European allies oppose peace discussions without Ukraine present.
- Kyiv rejects proposals for land concessions in Donetsk region.
- Russian forces press toward Pokrovsk in Donbas ahead of summit.
- Ukrainian drones strike Russian oil facility in Bryansk region.
Trump Meeting with Zelenskyy, EU Leaders Before Putin Alaska Summit
Deep Look
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spent Wednesday in Berlin meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and preparing for a series of high-level virtual discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump and European allies. The talks come just two days before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska — a summit from which Ukraine has been excluded.
German government spokesperson Steffen Meyer said Chancellor Merz called the virtual meetings to ensure “the position of the Europeans” is clearly communicated before Trump and Putin sit down. The agenda includes a sequence of discussions: first, Zelenskyy will speak with European leaders; then he will join a virtual call with Trump and Vice President JD Vance; finally, there will be a session with the “coalition of the willing” — countries prepared to help enforce any future peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.
Zelenskyy Pushes for Coordinated Pressure on Russia
On his Telegram channel, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has held more than 30 conversations with partners ahead of the Alaska summit. He reiterated his belief that Russia is not negotiating in good faith. “There is currently no sign that the Russians are preparing to end the war,” Zelenskyy wrote. “Pressure must be applied on Russia for an honest peace… to prevent deception by Russia.”
Trump’s Stated Goals and European Concerns
Trump has described Friday’s meeting with Putin as “a feel-out meeting” to gauge whether the Russian leader is serious about ending the war. However, his remarks about possible “land swapping” and expectations that Ukraine will cede Russian-held territory have unsettled Kyiv and its allies.
European leaders insist Ukraine must be involved in any peace process, warning that bilateral talks between Washington and Moscow could tilt in Russia’s favor. Many also fear that if Russia secures major concessions in Ukraine, it could embolden Putin to target other European nations.
Trump has so far avoided committing to Ukraine’s inclusion in the Alaska talks, telling reporters that a future meeting involving himself, Putin, and Zelenskyy could be arranged after Friday’s summit.
Kyiv Rejects Territorial Concessions
Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Putin wants Ukraine to withdraw from the remaining 30% of Donetsk region still under Kyiv’s control — a proposal he flatly rejected. “Ukraine will not give up any territory it controls,” he said, calling such a concession unconstitutional and a stepping stone for further Russian aggression.
He also criticized U.S.-led diplomatic efforts for not addressing Ukraine’s core demands, such as security guarantees and European participation in negotiations. Three weeks into Trump’s return to office, his administration removed NATO membership for Ukraine from the table — a key Russian demand — and signaled that security in Europe would be primarily a European responsibility.
EU’s Strategic Calculations
Senior EU officials suspect Trump may settle for a ceasefire rather than pushing for a comprehensive settlement, focusing instead on broader U.S.–Russia relations and trade. Such an outcome could leave Ukraine in a precarious position and weaken the EU’s leverage in future negotiations with Moscow.
Battlefield Developments Ahead of the Summit
On the ground, Russia is intensifying its push in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, with a focus on capturing Pokrovsk. Military analysts warn that losing Pokrovsk would give Russia a significant strategic advantage and disrupt Ukrainian supply lines into Donetsk.
In a show of its own reach, Ukraine’s military announced that drones struck the Unecha oil pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk region overnight. The facility, which services two major pipelines with a combined capacity of 60 million tons annually, suffered damage and a large fire, according to Ukraine’s General Staff. The operation was reportedly conducted by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces and its Main Intelligence Directorate.
High Stakes for All Sides
As the Alaska summit approaches, tensions are running high. For Trump, the meeting is a test of personal diplomacy and his belief in one-on-one negotiation. For Putin, it is a chance to shape the narrative and possibly secure concessions without Ukraine present. For Zelenskyy and Europe, the challenge is to ensure that their voices remain central in any peace process — even if the first steps are taken without them.
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