Trump, Putin, and Europe’s Race to Keep Ukraine at the Table

Alaska Diplomacy: White House hasn’t ruled out Zelensky of Ukraine

What started as a surprise social media post from President Donald Trump on Friday has spiraled into a whirlwind of diplomacy across continents. The announcement? A high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday in Alaska, a summit that could reshape the war in Ukraine and the geopolitical landscape around it. But one glaring omission from the invitation list has European leaders scrambling: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.

By Saturday morning, European leaders were already in motion. In the English countryside, Vice President JD Vance convened a hastily arranged meeting at the manor home of the UK’s foreign secretary. Around the table: senior officials from France, Italy, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Finland. The agenda was clear, understand exactly what Trump and Putin plan to discuss, and make sure Ukraine isn’t sidelined in talks about its own future.

The European message to Vance was blunt:

Ukraine must be directly involved in peace negotiations.
A ceasefire must be in place before any substantive talks begin.
If Ukraine is to give up land, Russia must give some up too.

This wasn’t just diplomatic posturing. It was a calculated effort to push back on what many fear is a one-sided plan being quietly shaped between Washington and Moscow.

DONT MISS THIS: Trump and Putin Alaska Summit Plan for Ukraine

Zelensky Left Out — For Now

So far, Trump’s plan for Alaska is a bilateral, just him and Putin. White House officials haven’t ruled out involving Zelensky in some meetings, but sources say that would likely happen after the Trump-Putin session. The reasoning? Officials claim the meeting came together “very quickly” and that details, including the exact location in Alaska, are still being finalized.

For Zelensky, that’s hardly reassuring. Speaking Sunday, he made it clear that Ukraine’s future cannot be negotiated without Ukraine: “Our arguments are being heard. The dangers are being taken into account.” But even as he voiced cautious optimism, the uncertainty hung in the air.

The Europeans aren’t just asking for Ukraine to have a seat at the table, they’re trying to anchor the peace process to principles that directly contradict parts of Putin’s pitch. Their joint statement, welcomed by Zelensky, was unequivocal:

Borders must not be changed by force.
The current line of contact should be the starting point for negotiations.
Any deal must include strong, credible security guarantees for Ukraine.

Compare that to what Western officials say Putin offered to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow this week: Ukraine would hand over the entire eastern Donbas region, much of which Russia already occupies, in exchange for a ceasefire. The proposal’s details are murky, but the fate of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, two other regions partially occupied by Russia, remains unclear. Even more uncertain? Whether the U.S. would commit to long-term security guarantees for Ukraine if territorial concessions were made.

A Delicate Balancing Act for Trump

Trump has hinted that a deal could involve “some swapping of territories,” but that phrase alone has set off alarm bells in Kyiv and European capitals. For Ukraine, territory isn’t just land, it’s sovereignty, identity, and the lives of citizens still living under threat of occupation. For Putin, securing land without having to fight for it would be a strategic win.

In Alaska, Trump will have to navigate a razor-thin line: balancing his stated goal of ending the war with the political and moral cost of pressuring Ukraine into a compromise it doesn’t want.

The next six days will be a blur of shuttle diplomacy. Behind closed doors, European capitals are working their phones, the U.S. is coordinating with allies, and Zelensky’s team is making sure Ukraine’s voice isn’t drowned out in the noise.

But here’s the reality:

If Ukraine is sidelined in Alaska, it risks losing control over its own future.
If Europe can’t influence the outcome, the war’s endgame may tilt in Moscow’s favor.
If Trump and Putin agree on a framework without Kyiv’s buy-in, the “peace” that emerges may be little more than a temporary pause.

This summit could be a historic breakthrough, or a historic blunder. Either way, the world will be watching Alaska on Friday.