President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Donald Trump will push for a Ukraine ceasefire and security guarantees when he meets Vladimir Putin in Alaska later this month. The statement came after a joint call Wednesday between the U.S., European leaders, and Ukraine.
The video meeting included British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The goal was simple — set firm terms before Trump’s face-to-face with Putin.
Ceasefire and No Land Concessions
Zelenskyy says Trump’s main aim is to get Russia to stop fighting. The first step is a ceasefire. After that, talks could happen — but only with Ukraine in the room. Trump also agreed there should be no recognition of Russian control over occupied territory.
“The ceasefire must come first,” Zelenskyy said from Berlin, where he joined the call. “Ukraine must be part of every step.”
Trump also backed Western security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent future Russian attacks.
Warning to Putin
Trump sent a message to Putin ahead of the summit: agree to a truce or face “very severe consequences.” He didn’t detail what that means, but U.S. officials say it could involve heavier sanctions or other measures against Russia’s defense sector.
The war has been stuck for months along mostly fixed front lines, but shelling and civilian deaths continue. Western leaders think now is a narrow window to stop the fighting.
U.S. and Europe on the Same Page
European leaders have worried Trump might cut a deal with Putin that leaves Ukraine out. This week’s meeting was about locking in a united position.
The shared terms are:
- Ceasefire first.
- No recognition of Russian sovereignty over occupied areas.
- Talks start from current front lines.
- Western security guarantees for Ukraine.
“This isn’t appeasement,” a European diplomat said. “It’s about giving Ukraine space and protection to recover.”
Possible Three-Way Meeting
If the Alaska talks go well, Trump says he’s open to a second meeting with both Putin and Zelenskyy. That would be the first direct talks between the two leaders since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Zelenskyy has said Ukraine won’t give up territory but will talk if there’s a real chance to end the war. “If it respects our sovereignty, we must explore it,” he said.
Risks and Doubts
Analysts warn Putin could use a ceasefire to dig in, rebuild, and strike again later. Some also question whether Trump will stick to the “red lines” set with Europe. They point to past Trump-Putin meetings that happened behind closed doors.
For Ukraine, the danger is getting locked into a bad deal that cements Russian gains. But a solid truce with credible guarantees could let Kyiv shift focus to rebuilding.
What’s Next
In the run-up to Alaska, U.S., European, and Ukrainian negotiators will keep refining their stance. Ukraine will push to secure as much international backing as possible.
Whether Putin agrees is unclear. Russian state media has played down the chance of big concessions, instead saying Moscow wants to push its demands about NATO and Western military activity.
Zelenskyy says unity is Ukraine’s strongest card. “Our friends in Washington, London, Paris, and Berlin stand with us,” he said. “We enter these talks speaking as one.”
