Zelensky Set for High-Stakes Trump Summit Monday as Putin Digs In on War

Geopolitical tensions hit boiling point as Ukraine's leader prepares to confront US powerbrokers—while Moscow plays hardball.

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Uneasy Relationship

Monday’s visit to the WHITE House raises the stakes for Zelensky, who’s had an uneasy relationship with Trump. His last visit in the Oval Office in February descended in a shouting match between the two leaders and briefly led to the US pausing military aid to Ukraine, which undercut the country’s fighting capabilities.

Trump and Zelensky have since met repeatedly, including at the NATO leaders summit in Hague and at the Vatican, and patched up their ties.

European officials welcomed Trump’s efforts during their call with the US president. They also reiterated the need for a trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky in a statement released on Saturday. That statement made no mention of earlier demands for an immediate ceasefire as a first step toward negotiations.

The topic of a trilateral summit wasn’t raised in Alaska, Russia’s state TV channel Vesti reported on Saturday, citing Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.

European leaders also said that it will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory. “International borders must not be changed by force,” according to the statement, signed by the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Finland, Poland the UK and the president of the European Commission.

Some European officials are concerned that Trump will now pressure Zelensky to make territorial concessions to reach a deal, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.

“President Trump’s resolve to get a peace deal is vital,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. “But the harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon.”

Putin continues to drag out negotiations and “left Anchorage without making any commitments to end the killing,” Kallas said.

In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity after the Alaskan summit, Trump said that there were a few sticking points remaining after his discussion with Putin, even as he cautioned that the two hadn’t reached a deal, and shifted his focus to Zelensky, saying it was up to him to resolve the war.

“We are clear that Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity” and “no limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or on its cooperation with third countries,” the statement from European leaders said. “Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine‘s pathway to EU and NATO.”

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Air Force said on Telegram Saturday morning that Russia launched 85 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukrainian territory overnight, underscoring Moscow’s intention to press on with the war. “On the day of negotiations, the Russians are killing as well. And that speaks volumes,” Zelensky said on X.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said on Telegram that Friday’s Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska showed that negotiations are possible even as the fighting continues.

—With assistance from Yuliya Fedorinova.

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