The White House has confirmed it is “considering” inviting Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to a landmark summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for August 15 in Alaska. Senior administration officials say no final decision has been made, but a trilateral meeting remains “absolutely possible.”
According to sources familiar with internal discussions, the idea is under active review, with some senior figures hopeful it could bring all key parties to the negotiating table. “The president remains open to a trilateral summit with both leaders,” a senior White House official said, while noting that current planning is focused on the bilateral session requested by Mr Putin.
European Leaders Insist on Ukraine’s Seat at the Table
Ahead of the Alaska talks, European leaders have issued a stark warning that any path to peace in the Russia-Ukraine war must involve Ukraine directly. In a joint statement after a high-level meeting hosted by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening in Kent, leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission stressed that Kyiv must be part of the decision-making process.
“The only approach to ending the war combines active diplomacy, support to Ukraine, and pressure on the Russian Federation,” the statement read. The leaders emphasised that “international borders must not be changed by force” and urged that “meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities.”
U.S. Vice President Backs Negotiated Settlement
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who attended the Chevening talks while on holiday in the UK, told Fox News the administration is pursuing a negotiated settlement that both Russia and Ukraine could “live with.” He acknowledged that neither side is likely to be fully satisfied but insisted that “you can’t actually sit down and have this negotiation absent the leadership of Donald J Trump.”
Vance suggested that the current line of contact between Russian and Ukrainian forces might form the basis for such an agreement, with territorial adjustments to “the betterment of both sides.” His remarks come amid concerns from Kyiv and NATO allies that Trump could accept Russian proposals without adequately considering Ukraine’s position.
Zelenskyy Firm on Territorial Integrity
President Zelenskyy has made clear he will not accept any settlement that allows Russia to retain occupied Ukrainian territories. Speaking on Saturday, he warned that conceding land would embolden Moscow to launch further offensives.
“Now, Putin wants to be forgiven for seizing the south of our Kherson region, Zaporizhzhia, the entire territory of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and Crimea. We will not allow this second attempt to partition Ukraine,” he said. Zelenskyy argued that Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 only encouraged future aggression, cautioning, “Where there is a second, there will be a third.”
Security Guarantees Key to Any Deal
The European joint statement also underscored the need for robust security guarantees as part of any peace arrangement. These guarantees, leaders said, must enable Ukraine to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity effectively, while also protecting Europe’s broader security interests.
They stressed that “Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny” and that any agreement must prevent further acts of aggression. The statement called for starting talks from the current front line but insisted this would not legitimise changes to Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders.
Ground Realities Underscore Urgency
While diplomatic manoeuvres continue, the war grinds on. Overnight, Russian strikes killed five people in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk, while a Ukrainian drone attack on an oil refinery in Russia’s Saratov region left one person dead. The fresh violence highlights the high human cost of the ongoing conflict and the urgency behind calls for a ceasefire.
Despite the bloodshed, both sides have shown little public willingness to compromise on core territorial issues, making the task of any mediator — including the U.S. president — a formidable challenge.
High Stakes for Alaska Summit
President Trump has said the U.S. is “getting very close to a deal” to end the conflict and has hinted at “some swapping of territories” as part of the settlement. Whether this vision aligns with Ukraine’s red lines remains uncertain.
The Alaska summit could mark a historic diplomatic breakthrough or deepen divisions between Kyiv and its Western allies if Ukraine is sidelined. For now, all eyes are on whether Trump will extend a formal invitation to Zelenskyy — a move that could shape the trajectory of the war and Europe’s security for years to come.
