President Donald Trump has signaled that he is prepared to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin even if the Russian leader refuses to sit down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The statement represents a shift from earlier indications that a Putin–Zelenskyy meeting would be a prerequisite for high-level talks between Washington and Moscow.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump dismissed the idea of making a Zelenskyy meeting a condition. “No, he doesn’t,” the president said when asked directly. He added that his priority was “to stop the killing” in Ukraine, reiterating his push for an end to the conflict.
The Kremlin has confirmed that preparations are underway for a summit with Trump “in the coming days,” with the U.S. president announcing that the meeting will take place on August 15 in Alaska. This would be the first U.S.–Russia summit held on American soil since 1988 and the first meeting between Trump and Putin since 2019.
Although Trump has previously floated the idea of a trilateral session involving Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian leader has insisted that Kyiv must be directly represented in any negotiations. Zelenskyy has also called for greater European participation, arguing that sidelining Ukraine would undermine both the legitimacy and sustainability of any agreement.
The planned summit follows weeks of intensified diplomacy, including consultations between Trump’s special envoy and Kremlin officials, as well as renewed threats of sanctions if Moscow fails to agree to a ceasefire. Still, major questions remain over whether Ukraine’s demands—or its presence—will be incorporated into the talks.
