US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would seek a three-way meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin immediately after his upcoming Alaska summit with Putin, as part of his push to end the three-year war in Ukraine.
Speaking after what he called a “very good” call with European leaders, including Zelensky, Trump confirmed the planned Friday face-to-face with Putin in Anchorage. He said a follow-up meeting with both leaders could happen “almost immediately” if the first talks go well.
The Alaska summit comes as Trump works to fulfill his campaign pledge to end the conflict, with Zelensky and European allies urging a ceasefire. Concerns remain that Trump and Putin could reach a deal forcing concessions from Ukraine, especially as Zelensky was not invited to the initial talks.
Trump warned he would cancel the trilateral meeting if Putin acted in bad faith. “If I feel that it’s not appropriate… then we are not going to have a second meeting,” he said.
AFP analysis shows Russian forces on Tuesday captured their largest single-day territorial gain in over a year — about 110 square kilometres. Earlier, Zelensky joined German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, other European leaders, and NATO and EU chiefs in a joint call with Trump, pressing for a ceasefire and warning of “severe consequences” for Russia if it refused.
Zelensky expressed doubts about Moscow’s intentions, saying Putin “definitely does not want peace.” Merz added Ukraine is willing to negotiate on territorial matters but ruled out recognising Russian-occupied areas.
Despite ongoing diplomacy, Russia’s eastern offensive is intensifying. Ukrainian soldiers near Kramatorsk voiced skepticism, with one serviceman warning, “Putin is massing an army… This war will likely continue for a long time.”
