In a move that has sent shockwaves through the international community, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next Friday to discuss ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. This bilateral summit, set against the backdrop of a state once sold by Russia to the U.S. over 150 years ago, excludes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and has sparked fears that it could lead to territorial concessions favoring Moscow. As analysis from CNN’s Nick Paton Walsh suggests, the meeting resembles a “slow defeat” for Ukraine, where Russia might gain land without firing a shot.
The announcement comes amid escalating tensions on the front lines, where Russian forces are advancing in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk region. Trump, speaking to reporters, expressed optimism, saying he thinks “we have a shot at” peace between Russia and Ukraine, even hinting at “swapping of territories” as part of a deal. However, Zelensky swiftly rejected any such ideas in a video address, declaring that Ukraine is “ready to work together with President Trump” but will “not give up land” to the occupier. His stance reflects the deep distrust among Ukrainians, who have endured nearly four years of invasion, nightly bombardments, and heavy losses defending their territory.
Residents in Kyiv, interviewed by CNN, voiced a mix of anxiety and frustration about the summit. One local described it as a potential betrayal, fearing that excluding Ukraine from the talks could undermine their sovereignty. “It’s like deciding our fate without us at the table,” another said, highlighting the exclusion of Zelensky as a major concern. These sentiments underscore the human cost of the conflict, with stories emerging of Ukrainian soldiers cycling to safety after assaults and civilians in besieged towns facing dire conditions.
Walsh’s analysis paints a grim picture of the summit’s dynamics, which heavily tilt toward Russia. Putin’s forces are close to encircling key towns like Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka, and ceding the rest of Donetsk—including populated areas like Kramatorsk and Sloviansk—would mean evacuations and Russian occupation without resistance. In exchange, Ukraine might regain only minor border slivers in regions like Sumy and Kharkiv, hardly a fair trade. Walsh notes that Putin has consistently demanded a ceasefire on his terms, using delays for “technical work” to regroup, much like past broken agreements that echoed the infamous 1938 Munich Pact.
Adding to the complexity, Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, has floated ideas of Ukraine conceding parts of Donetsk and Luhansk for a ceasefire—proposals that Moscow has eagerly promoted. European allies, wary of repeating historical mistakes, have reacted with horror. French President Emmanuel Macron and others are scrambling to influence the process, while a recent U.S. official described a meeting in the UK as making “significant progress” toward peace.
That UK summit, hosted by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening House, included Ukrainian chief of staff Andriy Yermak and representatives from France, Germany, Italy, Finland, and Poland. Zelensky called the talks “constructive,” emphasizing that any path to peace must involve Ukraine directly. “Our arguments are being heard, and the dangers are being taken into account,” he said in his nightly address. Yet, European leaders are piecing together Putin’s plan from Witkoff’s Moscow talks, which reportedly hands Russia control of the entire Donbas region.
Trump claims his views on Putin have evolved, using words like “disappointed” and “disgusting” to describe the Russian leader’s actions. However, critics point out that U.S. threats of sanctions have repeatedly fizzled, and with Russia making strategic gains, Putin enters the Alaska meeting from a position of strength. Influences from India and China—facing potential U.S. tariffs—may have nudged Putin toward diplomacy, but his ultimate goal remains clear: subjugating Ukraine and resetting ties with Washington.
As the summit approaches, the world watches closely. For Ukraine, this could mark a turning point toward a fragile ceasefire or a devastating land grab. Zelensky’s defiance and allied efforts offer hope, but the exclusionary nature of the talks raises a stark question: Can peace be achieved without the voice of those fighting on the front lines? With Russian troops claiming captures like a key Ukrainian town and drones lighting up the night sky, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Alaska meeting might symbolize economic cooperation for Putin, but for Ukraine, it risks becoming a symbol of surrender.