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The purpose of the dialogue is to address Ukraine’s growing concerns about being side-lined in negotiations.
President Zelenskyy has rejected any possibility of agreeing to territorial concessions (IMAGE: REUTERS)
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska on August 15 to discuss the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The high-stakes summit will take place behind closed doors and will be limited to representatives from the US and Russia, raising significant concerns over Ukraine’s exclusion from direct participation.
Addressing criticism surrounding Kyiv’s absence from the in-person discussions, the White House officials confirmed on Tuesday that President Trump will hold a virtual meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prior to the summit, ABC News reported. The session is expected to take place on Wednesday.
Sources familiar with the development said President Trump and Vice President JD Vance will join the virtual meeting, which will also include key European allies. The purpose of the dialogue is to address Ukraine’s growing concerns about being sidelined in negotiations that could shape the outcome of the war and affect its territorial sovereignty.
Recently, President Zelenskyy has issued repeated warnings that “talks about us, without us, will not work.” He has also rejected any possibility of agreeing to territorial concessions, especially the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the contested Donbas region in the east.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday, he reaffirmed Ukraine’s stance, stating, “Donbas for the Russians is a springboard for a future new offensive. We will not leave Donbas. We cannot do this. Everyone forgets the first part—our territories are illegally occupied.”
The Donbas region, comprising Luhansk and Donetsk, has been a focal point of the war since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Moscow has since claimed both regions as part of its territory.
Zelenskyy also expressed frustration with the Alaska summit, calling the direct Trump-Putin meeting a “personal victory” for the Russian leader. Although the White House has framed the summit as a “listening exercise” for President Trump, Ukrainian officials fear their interests may be compromised in backchannel talks.
Still, Zelenskyy struck a hopeful tone, revealing that during a recent call with US envoy Steve Witkoff, he received a subtle indication that Russia may be open to negotiating a ceasefire. “This was the first signal from them,” he noted.
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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
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