Overview

• Trump and Putin will meet one-on-one in Alaska on Aug. 15 in what the White House describes as a “listening exercise” to explore ceasefire options.
• The White House has excluded Ukraine from the initial bilateral session, with Trump planning to consult Ukrainian and European leaders only after meeting Putin.
• European and Ukrainian leaders will hold a virtual session with Trump Wednesday to warn against sidelining Kyiv and insist on enforceable security guarantees.
• President Zelenskiy has publicly rejected any territorial swaps, declaring that “concessions do not persuade a killer” and affirming Ukraine will not cede land.
• Analysts and diplomats caution that a rushed U.S.–Russia deal risks rewarding Russia’s gains and could use threats to cut aid as leverage against Kyiv.