World leaders are holding a flurry of virtual meetings Wednesday in a coordinated effort to ensure Ukraine’s voice is heard before U.S. President Donald Trump meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. The talks come amid growing concern among NATO allies that negotiations excluding Kyiv could tilt in Moscow’s favor.
President Trump will participate in the discussions from the White House, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Berlin alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to the German government, Merz is hosting a series of calls designed to amplify European and Ukrainian positions before the U.S.-Russia summit.
The day’s agenda includes Zelenskyy’s meeting with European leaders, followed by a joint call with Trump and Vice President Vance. Later, leaders from the so-called “coalition of the willing”, nations prepared to help enforce any future peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv will also confer virtually.
In a statement reported by AFP, Zelenskyy urged allies to maintain strong diplomatic and military pressure on Russia.
“Pressure must be exerted on Russia for the sake of a fair peace,” he said on social media. “We must learn from the experience of Ukraine and our partners to prevent deception on the part of Russia. There are currently no signs that the Russians are preparing to end the war.”
Zelenskyy’s remarks underline his concern that Russia’s ongoing aggression now in its fourth year; shows no signs of abating. He has repeatedly warned that Ukraine will reject any proposals requiring it to cede territory, including the 30% of Donetsk still under Ukrainian control. “Talks about us, without us, will not work,” he emphasized.
On Wednesday, Chancellor Merz pledged Germany’s support for Ukraine’s development of its own long-range missile systems — free from Western-imposed restrictions on range and targeting — to strengthen Kyiv’s defense capabilities.
President Trump has described Friday’s Alaska meeting with Putin as a “feel-out” session aimed at gauging whether the Russian leader is serious about ending the war. While he has said Ukraine will likely need to surrender some Russian-held territory and that land swaps could be part of a deal, he has not clarified what concessions he expects from Moscow.
Those statements have unsettled U.S. allies in Europe, who fear such an approach could embolden Putin and weaken Ukraine’s negotiating position. The concern is compounded by Trump’s reluctance to commit publicly to including Zelenskyy in Friday’s talks.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump hinted at the possibility of arranging a follow-up meeting involving himself, Putin, and Zelenskyy. “The next meeting will be with Zelenskyy and Putin or Zelenskyy and Putin and me,” he said. U.S. officials told CBS News they are already scouting potential venues for such a trilateral meeting as soon as next week.
European capitals remain wary that Putin could leverage the Alaska talks to secure advantageous terms while sidelining Ukraine. Many leaders view the war not only as a threat to Ukrainian sovereignty but also as a potential prelude to further Russian expansion in Europe.
“If Putin secures a favorable peace deal in Ukraine, it could embolden him to target another European nation next,” one EU diplomat said, echoing sentiments widely shared in NATO.
Zelenskyy has also voiced frustration that U.S.-led diplomatic efforts have yet to address key Ukrainian demands, including binding security guarantees, Europe’s inclusion in negotiations, and measures to deter future Russian aggression.
Friday’s meeting will be held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, on the northern edge of Anchorage, marking the first face-to-face encounter between Putin and a sitting U.S. president since the invasion began.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the session as “a listening exercise” for Trump. “Only one party involved in this war is going to be present, so this is for the president to gain a more firm understanding of how we can hopefully bring this war to an end,” she said.
Security requirements and logistical challenges during Alaska’s peak tourist season left few suitable venues for the summit, according to U.S. officials.
What Comes Next
With no confirmed peace framework on the table, the Alaska meeting is expected to set the tone for any future negotiations. Whether it leads to concrete progress or becomes, as Zelenskyy fears, a photo opportunity for Putin will depend on how Friday’s closed-door talks unfold and whether Kyiv is brought into the process immediately afterward.
