Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a sharp warning ahead of US President Donald Trump’s planned August 15 summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, declaring that any peace agreement struck without Ukraine’s participation would be “stillborn” and incapable of ending the war.
In a video address on Saturday, Zelenskyy criticized the decision to hold the talks in Alaska — “very far away from this war, which is raging on our land, against our people” — and stressed that no settlement is possible without Kyiv at the table.
“Any decisions that are against us, any decisions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace,” Zelenskyy said. “They will not achieve anything. These are unworkable decisions. We all need real and genuine peace — peace that people will respect.”
Trump announced on Friday that he would meet Putin next week in Alaska to discuss a potential end to Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year. The conflict began with Moscow’s invasion in February 2022 and has since killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.
Kyiv has consistently pushed for a three-way summit involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, arguing that direct talks with Moscow are the only credible path to a lasting ceasefire. Ukrainian officials fear that a bilateral US-Russia deal could cement Putin’s territorial gains, forcing Ukraine to surrender occupied land in violation of its Constitution.
“The answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already in the Constitution of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy reminded. “No one will deviate from this — and no one will be able to. Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier.”
Speaking to reporters at the White House before announcing the Alaska summit, Trump hinted that an eventual agreement might involve “some swapping of territories,” though he gave no details. “Nothing easy,” Trump said. “But we’re gonna get some back. We’re gonna get some switched. There’ll be some swapping of territories, to the betterment of both.”
Over the past three and a half years, multiple rounds of direct Moscow–Kyiv talks — some mediated by the Trump administration — have failed to yield a breakthrough. Relations between Trump and Zelenskyy have swung from open confrontation to cautious cooperation. In February, a tense Oval Office meeting led to a temporary US freeze on military aid, with Trump publicly blaming Zelenskyy for prolonging the war. Weeks later, however, Trump accused Putin of “disgusting” behaviour and renewed his support for Ukraine.
The Alaska talks are expected to be closely watched by allies and adversaries alike. For Putin, the meeting represents a rare opportunity to engage with Washington directly after years of isolation over his war in Ukraine. For Zelenskyy, it is a test of whether the US will honor Kyiv’s role as a central actor in shaping its own future.
Trump has said he is open to meeting with Zelenskyy — but only after his one-on-one session with Putin.
