President Donald Trump left Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders with jitters after a virtual call Wednesday to discuss his vital meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite rating the call “a 10,” Trump reiterated that Ukraine would likely have to cede territory to Russia to end the war.
The US president will fly to Anchorage on Friday for a face-to-face summit with Putin aimed at negotiating a ceasefire and eventually bringing the three-and-a-half-year Ukraine war to a close. However, the exclusion of Zelensky from the talks has sparked deep concern in Kyiv and European capitals about potential concessions being made behind Ukraine’s back.
Speaking at the Kennedy Center Wednesday evening, Trump called the virtual meeting with Zelensky and European leaders “very friendly,” telling reporters: “We had a very good call, he was on the call, President Zelensky was on the call, I would rate it a 10.
Territory Demands Spark Resistance
The Ukrainian leader emerged from the call warning that “Putin is bluffing” about wanting to end the war and insisting that no decisions about Ukrainian territory could be made without Ukraine present in the negotiations. This resistance comes as Trump continues to push the controversial idea of territorial swaps.
“There’ll be some land-swapping going on,” Trump said Monday. I know that through conversations with Russia and conversations with everybody. To the good, for the good of Ukraine. Good stuff, not bad stuff. Also, some bad stuff for both.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is hosting Zelensky in Berlin, said after the call that Europe’s leaders are “doing everything to ensure that Trump’s meeting with Putin goes the right way.” He confirmed that European leaders had made clear to Trump that Ukraine must have a seat at any future peace negotiations.
The German leader added that Trump had agreed to contact European allies immediately after his Alaska meeting with Putin to discuss the results and plan next steps together.
Zelensky Excluded from Alaska Summit
When pressed on why Zelensky was excluded from Friday’s crucial meeting, Trump said it was “always going to be” just between himself and Putin initially. He characterised the Alaska summit as simply “setting the table” for future negotiations.
If the first one goes OK, we’ll have a quick second one,” Trump explained. I would like to do it almost immediately and we’ll have a quick second meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky and myself, if they’d like to have me there, and that would be a meeting where maybe it could be absolutely worked.
This staged approach has done little to calm nerves in Kyiv, where officials fear Trump may agree to Russian demands without proper consultation with Ukraine or its European allies.
European Leaders Voice Concerns
French President Emmanuel Macron, who Axios reported told Trump that “a meeting is a very big thing to give to Putin,” emerged from Wednesday’s call with a more optimistic tone. Macron said the US president hoped to achieve a ceasefire from the sit-down and confirmed that “no serious territorial exchange schemes” are currently on the table.
However, concerns remain about what exactly might be discussed. On Wednesday, the Times of London reported that a West Bank-like option was being floated as a potential solution for occupied Ukrainian territory. Under this scenario, Russia would maintain military and economic control of captured regions through its own governing body, similar to Israel’s control over Palestinian territories.
The White House swiftly denied this report, with spokesperson Anna Kelly calling it “total fake news and sloppy reporting by The Times.
“Nothing of the sort was discussed with anyone at any point,” Kelly said in a statement to the Daily Mail.
Constitutional Challenges for Ukraine
Zelensky faces significant constitutional hurdles in any potential territorial concessions. Ukrainian law prohibits ceding sovereign territory without parliamentary approval or a national referendum – a point that has clearly frustrated Trump.
“I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelensky was saying, ‘I have to get constitutional approval,'” Trump said Monday. “He’s got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap?”
Despite this frustration, Trump claimed Zelensky is working to smooth the path: “He’s going out and getting what he needs. He’s not authorized to do certain things. I said, ‘Well, you’re going to have to get it fast, because, you know, we’re getting very close to a deal.'”
Putin’s Demands Remain Maximalist
The Russian president has shown little sign of moderating his demands, which include:
- Ukraine formally ceding Crimea and the Donbas regions
- An end to Ukraine’s NATO ambitions
- Limits on the size and sophistication of Ukraine’s military
- Lifting of all international sanctions on Russia
Putin’s proposal, presented to Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow last week, would freeze current battle lines – leaving Russia in control of approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Warning Signs from the Battlefield
Adding to the tension, Zelensky warned during Monday’s nightly address that Russian forces appear to be preparing for new offensive operations rather than winding down for peace talks. This assessment was backed by reports of Russian forces breaking through Ukrainian lines north of Pokrovsk, advancing at least six miles toward Dobropillia.
“Putin may be talking about peace,” Zelensky said, but he’s “certainly not getting ready for a ceasefire or an end to the war. There is no sign that the Russians have received signals to prepare for a postwar situation.”
Trump’s Evolving Relationship with Leaders
The Ukraine crisis has caused the most dramatic clash in Trump’s presidency, including a heated late February confrontation with Zelensky in front of the press. However, that relationship has since improved, while Trump has grown more skeptical of Putin.
Trump credited this shift to First Lady Melania Trump, who has reportedly pointed out Putin’s continued bombing campaigns of Ukrainian territory even after friendly conversations with the US president.
Putin went through a hell of a lot with me,” Trump had yelled during the February meeting with Zelensky, but his tone has notably softened in recent weeks.
European Unity Behind Ukraine
Following Wednesday’s call, European leaders issued statements emphasising their unified position. As we work towards a sustainable and just peace, international law is clear: All temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
The statement from European leaders stressed: “The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.”
High Stakes in Alaska
Trump has expressed confidence he’ll quickly assess Putin’s intentions, telling reporters Monday: “Probably in the first two minutes I’ll know if a deal can be made. Because that’s what I do.”
The Alaska summit represents a critical moment in Trump’s presidency. Having pledged during his 2024 campaign to end the Ukraine war on “day one,” he now faces the complex reality of negotiating between two leaders with seemingly irreconcilable positions.
As Friday’s meeting approaches, the world watches to see whether Trump can deliver on his promise to bring peace – and at what cost to Ukrainian sovereignty and European security.
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Image Credit (Shortened):
Donald Trump at Pennsylvania campaign rally (2016) – by Gage Skidmore, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
