Trump Invites Putin to Alaska Amid Ukraine Crisis
Trump Invites Putin to Alaska for First Face-to-Face Meeting Since Ukraine Invasion
In a surprising move, former U.S. President Donald Trump has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to Alaska this Friday for their first in-person meeting since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The meeting comes amid Trump’s criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s refusal to consider territorial concessions.
European leaders, worried that Trump and Putin might push for compromises unacceptable to Ukraine, are planning separate talks on Wednesday with both Zelensky and Trump to discuss the situation.
Since starting his second term, Trump has been trying to broker peace in Ukraine. After previously claiming he could end the conflict in 24 hours, his efforts so far—through multiple talks, calls, and diplomatic visits—have yet to bring a breakthrough.
At a White House press briefing, Trump downplayed expectations for the Alaska meeting but said he hoped for “constructive conversations” with Putin. Calling it “a feel-out meeting,” he explained he wanted to understand Putin’s position before deciding how to proceed.
“If it’s a fair deal, I’ll share it with European Union leaders, NATO chiefs, and President Zelensky,” Trump said. “If not, I may just say ‘lots of luck, keep fighting.’ Or maybe we can make a deal.”
The European Union emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s right to determine its future. In a statement, EU leaders affirmed that peace must respect international law, including Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity, and that borders should not be changed by force.
Zelensky has firmly rejected any territorial concessions. Trump, who publicly criticized Zelensky at a White House meeting earlier this year, expressed frustration with the Ukrainian president’s stance and insisted that some land swaps would be necessary for peace.
“There’ll be some swapping, there’ll be some changes in land,” Trump said, but also stressed that he planned to tell Putin directly: “You’ve got to end this war.”
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has scheduled a virtual summit on Wednesday with French, British, and other European leaders, as well as EU and NATO heads. The talks will focus on increasing pressure on Russia and preparing for possible peace negotiations, including discussions around territorial claims and security.
EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Monday with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and are considering a 19th package of sanctions on Russia. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated firmly that no concessions should be discussed until Russia agrees to a full and unconditional ceasefire.
“It has never worked in the past with Russia and will not work with Putin today,” she said.
Zelensky, for his part, warned against giving in to Putin’s demands. “Russia refuses to stop the killings and therefore must not receive any rewards or benefits,” Zelensky said in a social media statement. “This is not just a moral position—it’s a rational one. Concessions do not persuade a killer.”
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