Zelenskyy Excluded from Trump–Putin Peace Talks in Alaska, White House Says

Published Time: 08-13-2025, 16:20

The White House confirmed Tuesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not participate in upcoming talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, set to take place Friday in Anchorage, Alaska. Officials said the meeting was arranged at Putin’s request and is intended to explore possible paths toward ending the war in Ukraine.

Meeting Arranged at Russia’s Request

Speaking to reporters, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the meeting was initiated by Putin and accepted by Trump in the hope of gaining clearer insight into Russia’s position.

“The president is agreeing to this meeting, at the request of President Putin,” Leavitt said. “The goal of this meeting for the president is to walk away with a better understanding of how we can end this war.”

Leavitt emphasized that a face-to-face discussion could yield more valuable insights than remote communications.

“I think the president of the United States getting in the room with the president of Russia, sitting face-to-face rather than speaking over the telephone, will give this president the best indication of how to end this war and where this is headed,” she added.

Zelenskyy Responds: “Decisions Without Ukraine Are Against Peace”

President Zelenskyy expressed strong opposition to any peace negotiations that do not directly involve Ukraine.

“Any decisions made against us, any decisions made without Ukraine — they are simultaneously decisions against peace,” Zelenskyy said in a statement Saturday. “These are dead decisions; they will never work. And what we all need is a real, living peace, one that people will respect.”

Several European leaders echoed Zelenskyy’s position, stating that the “path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.”

Trump’s Approach to the Meeting

President Trump told reporters Monday that he expects to quickly gauge whether Putin is serious about negotiating a settlement. He acknowledged that any potential deal would likely require addressing “land swapping” issues between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump also said he plans to brief Zelenskyy and key European allies after the meeting.

“If it’s a fair deal, I will reveal it to the European Union leaders and the NATO leaders and also to President Zelenskyy,” Trump said. “I may say, ‘lots of luck, keep fighting,’ or I may say we can make a deal.”

Possibility of Progress

When asked whether the talks are intended to reach an agreement or simply to assess the possibility of one, Leavitt said both outcomes are possible.

“I think both can be true, right? The president has always said he wants a peace deal. He wants to see this war come to an end. But this bilateral meeting is a bilateral meeting between one party in this two-party war. You need both countries to agree to a deal,” Leavitt explained.

She added that the president would share his impressions of the meeting after it concludes.

Change of Venue to Alaska

The meeting location was finalized as Anchorage, Alaska, despite earlier comments suggesting it might take place in Russia.

“There were many sites discussed, but of course, Alaska is a state within the United States of America,” Leavitt said. “So the president is very honored and looks forward to hosting President Putin on American soil.”

Broader Context

The exclusion of Ukraine from these initial discussions underscores the complexity of diplomatic efforts to end the war. While the United States and Russia remain two of the most influential actors in the conflict, Ukraine and its European allies insist that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without Kyiv’s direct involvement.

The Anchorage meeting marks one of the most high-profile bilateral engagements between Trump and Putin since Trump returned to the presidency. Analysts say the outcome could influence the direction of future negotiations, but any binding agreement would still require Ukraine’s consent.

The talks are scheduled for Friday, with both sides expected to release statements afterward.