As U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin prepare to meet in Alaska on August 15 🌨️, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has a clear message: don’t make decisions about peace without Ukraine at the table.
In a social media post, Zelenskyy stressed that Ukrainians won’t hand over land to an occupier. "Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing," he wrote. It’s a firm stance that echoes the reality on the ground: you can’t finalize a group chat without the key player, right? 🤷♂️
So far this year, three rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have fizzled, and Putin has ruled out direct talks with Zelenskyy "at this stage." Without that face-to-face, the road to a deal feels like trying to stream your favorite show on dial-up—slow and full of glitches.
Meanwhile, Trump hinted that territory "swaps" might smooth things over for both sides, but details are sketchy. It’s like someone at the diner offering to pay your bill without checking what’s on your plate 🍽️. Zelenskyy wants clarity: any peace must be dignified, durable, and decided hand in hand with Ukraine.
This Alaska summit will be the first in-person meeting between a sitting U.S. and Russian president since 2021, when Joe Biden sat down with Putin in Geneva. The last time Trump and Putin met face-to-face was back in 2019 at the G20 in Japan. They’ve been on the phone a few times since January, but is that enough to break the ice?
As the date approaches, all eyes are on Alaska and whether this high-stakes chat can finally get everyone back to the same page. If nothing else, Zelenskyy’s warning sets the rule: no Ukraine, no deal. 📝
Reference(s):
Zelenskyy warns on 'decisions without Ukraine' before Trump-Putin meet
cgtn.com
