As former President Donald Trump prepares for a high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this Friday, Ukraine is raising urgent concerns about being excluded from negotiations that could shape its future. The potential for a deal struck without Kyiv’s input has triggered alarm among Ukrainian leaders and U.S. allies alike, especially after Trump hinted at discussions with Russia involving vague “land swaps.”
For nearly three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion, the U.S. has stood by Ukraine with a consistent message: “No negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine.” But with Trump’s latest comments suggesting he is already speaking with Russian leadership about territorial adjustments—without mentioning any commitments to Ukraine’s security or military support—that principle appears to be eroding.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy swiftly rejected Trump’s remarks, warning that any settlement made without Ukraine’s involvement would not bring peace. “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier,” Zelenskyy said in a national address. “Any solutions that are against us, any solutions that are without Ukraine, are simultaneously solutions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead solutions.”
Zelenskyy’s Fears and the Ghost of Yalta
Zelenskyy compared the situation to the 1945 Yalta Conference, where Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin divided post-war Europe—often at the expense of smaller nations. The fact that the Trump-Putin meeting is taking place in Alaska, once a Russian territory, only adds to the symbolic weight. Putin has repeatedly expressed historical claims over Ukraine, though not Alaska, which Russia sold to the U.S. in 1867.
After a tense meeting with Trump in February—where Trump told Zelenskyy “you don’t have the cards right now”—Kyiv fears that the former president may prioritize a quick deal with Putin over Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Political Risks for Trump
While Trump may view a direct peace agreement with Putin as a diplomatic win, the political cost could be high if he is seen as forcing Ukraine to surrender territory without guarantees of long-term security. Allies in Europe are also increasingly uneasy. Following a meeting in Britain, EU and NATO leaders issued a statement reaffirming that Ukraine must be part of any peace process and called for “robust and credible security guarantees.”
Vice President JD Vance met with European security officials in London ahead of the Alaska summit, signaling that the broader U.S. government may not fully align with Trump’s approach.
Trump has repeatedly stated that only he and Putin can resolve the war, dismissing the need for trilateral talks with Zelenskyy. While his envoy, Steve Witkoff, floated the idea of a three-way meeting, Trump waved it off last week. A senior administration official later said the idea is still on the table but not a condition for the summit.
Putin’s Strategic Advantage?
Trump’s willingness to meet Putin on American soil—despite the Russian leader’s status as an indicted war criminal by the International Criminal Court—has raised eyebrows. Analysts argue that just by securing this meeting, Putin is already gaining diplomatically.
“Trump still seems to treat Putin like a partner or a friend,” said Tressa Guenov of the Atlantic Council. “That continues to make negotiations difficult if Ukraine isn’t included.”
There is concern Trump may agree to terms favored by Moscow, including permanent Ukrainian withdrawal from territories Russia claims to have annexed—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia—and recognition of Crimea as Russian. Trump has already hinted that a territorial deal may be imminent: “We’re going to get some back, and we’re going to get some switched,” he said vaguely.
But experts warn such concessions would be a strategic mistake.
“Giving up the Donbas would be disastrous,” said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld of Yale’s Chief Executive Leadership Institute. He noted that the Trump administration previously negotiated for the U.S. to benefit from Ukraine’s mineral resources through a joint investment deal. “That is where a lot of these valuable minerals are.”
Sonnenfeld also emphasized that Russia’s economy is in deep trouble, and that Trump seems blind to Putin’s weakened position. “The mystical illusion of power that Putin creates is as real as the Wizard of Oz,” he said.
What’s Next?
While Trump hopes to add a diplomatic victory to his political résumé, critics argue the approach risks sacrificing Ukraine’s territorial integrity and rewarding aggression. European leaders, Ukrainian officials, and policy experts are urging caution and reaffirming that peace must include Ukraine, not come at its expense.
Whether Trump will heed those warnings—or press ahead with a solo deal with Putin—may shape the future of Europe and test the very principles of post-Cold War diplomacy.
