Trump and Putin to Hold Exclusive Summit in Alaska, Excluding Europe, as Ukraine Suffers

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet one-on-one in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine—a summit that starkly excludes Ukrainian and broader European representation. The summit will commence at 11:30 a.m. local time at Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force Base, beginning with a private meeting between the two leaders, followed by discussions involving their respective delegations, and concluding with a joint press conference.

The Russian delegation, composed of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev, represents the entrenched Russian elite, notorious for their role in the ongoing aggression against Ukraine and the repression of dissent at home.

Ahead of the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was forced to seek support from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, emphasizing the urgent need for real security guarantees and reiterating that international borders must not be changed by force—a principle under threat as Trump and Putin negotiate without Ukrainian input.

European leaders have voiced alarm at being shut out of the negotiations. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz participated in a virtual meeting with President Trump, where Trump offered vague assurances that a ceasefire in Ukraine would be a priority. Yet, the lack of direct European or Ukrainian involvement raises fears of a deal cut over the heads of those most affected by the war.

The Kremlin has signaled that the summit will also touch on so-called 'broader issues of peace and security,' including economic cooperation between Washington and Moscow—an agenda that risks prioritizing great power interests over the needs and rights of ordinary Ukrainians. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov noted that the meeting is expected to cover the most pressing international and regional issues, but the absence of civil society voices and independent oversight is glaring.

As the summit approaches, European Union leaders have set strict red lines on Ukraine, including a ceasefire and security guarantees, but face internal divisions, notably from Hungary, whose government has repeatedly undermined EU unity. Despite threats of more sanctions and military proposals, Europe’s influence appears limited compared to the backroom dealings between Washington and Moscow.

The outcome of the Alaska summit is anticipated to have significant implications for the future of the Ukraine conflict and international relations, but there is a real danger that the interests of the Ukrainian people and the broader European community will be sacrificed for the sake of geopolitical maneuvering by Trump and Putin.