Trump’s Foreign Policy Put to Test in Putin Meeting on Ukraine War/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday to discuss the Ukraine war and U.S.–Russia relations. The summit has sparked concern in Kyiv and Europe that a peace deal could be negotiated without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the table. European leaders insist any agreement must include Ukraine’s direct participation and uphold its sovereignty.
Trump-Putin Alaska Summit Quick Looks
- Date: Friday, in Alaska — Trump’s 30th week in office.
- Main Topic: Ukraine war and broader U.S.–Russia relations.
- Ukraine’s Zelenskyy not yet invited, despite request to attend.
- Trump signals peace deal could require territorial concessions from Kyiv.
- Russian forces occupy ~20% of Ukraine, including Crimea and key economic regions.
- European leaders back Zelenskyy’s push to join summit.
- Joint statement from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, and EU Commission calls for Ukraine’s inclusion.
- NATO chief Mark Rutte: Summit is chance to test Putin’s seriousness.
- Kremlin says talks aim for long-term peaceful resolution.
- Zelenskyy: “End of war must be fair.”
Trump’s Foreign Policy Put to Test in Putin Meeting on Ukraine War
Deep Look
President Donald Trump will cap his 30th week in office with a high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, a meeting expected to focus heavily on the war in Ukraine and the state of U.S.–Russia relations.
Scheduled for Friday, the summit has already drawn intense international attention — and criticism — over the possibility that Washington and Moscow could negotiate terms for ending the war without formally including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While both the White House and Kremlin have acknowledged Zelenskyy’s request to attend, no invitation has yet been extended.
If Zelenskyy were to join, it would mark his first face-to-face meeting with Putin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. That invasion has now dragged into its third year and fifth month, with Russia showing no sign of abandoning its territorial claims.
Territorial Stakes
Trump has previously indicated that a peace deal might require Ukraine to make significant territorial concessions — a proposal widely rejected by Kyiv and many European capitals. Russian forces currently control roughly one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, stretching from the Russian border to Crimea. This includes regions rich in industry and natural resources, as well as home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.
For Ukraine, any concession is politically and strategically fraught. Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that no peace plan should reward aggression or strip Ukraine of its internationally recognized borders.
International Reactions
Over the weekend, a coalition of European leaders — from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission — released a joint statement supporting Zelenskyy’s bid to participate in the Alaska talks. They emphasized that any diplomatic resolution must safeguard both Ukraine’s and Europe’s security interests.
“The U.S. has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Reuters. She stressed that Ukraine and the EU must be included in any talks that could shape Europe’s future security environment.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also endorsed Zelenskyy’s participation, framing the summit as an opportunity to assess whether Putin is genuinely prepared to end the conflict.
Kremlin’s Position
The Kremlin, in a statement issued Saturday, said the Alaska summit would “focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution” in Ukraine. “This will evidently be a challenging process, but we will engage in it actively and energetically,” the statement read.
Moscow’s official language suggests it will enter the talks seeking terms that preserve some measure of its territorial control while potentially offering concessions in other areas. Analysts note that Putin’s broader goal may be to ensure Ukraine remains Russia-aligned and outside of NATO, rather than holding land for its own sake.
Zelenskyy’s Response
Zelenskyy thanked European leaders for their public backing, reiterating that “the end of the war must be fair.” He said Ukraine’s struggle is not only about defending its own sovereignty but also about protecting the security of European nations.
“I am grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine and our people today for the sake of peace in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.
What’s at Stake in Alaska
The summit represents a rare direct negotiation between the U.S. and Russia at the highest level since the invasion began. For Trump, it offers a chance to claim a role in brokering peace, though critics fear he may prioritize a quick resolution over long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.
For Kyiv and its allies, the concern is clear: a deal made without Ukraine’s full participation could lock in Russian territorial gains and undermine international law. With NATO expansion for Ukraine already off the table in the near term — a decision made by Trump’s administration — European leaders see the Alaska meeting as a critical moment to ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty is not compromised behind closed doors.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.