Zelenskyy Rejects ‘Without Us’ Talks Ahead of Anticipated Trump-Putin Summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vehemently rejected any peace discussions regarding Ukraine that exclude Kyiv, a strong declaration made just ahead of a highly anticipated one-on-one summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting is scheduled for Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.

Zelenskyy’s statement comes after Russia reportedly signaled a willingness to end the war, or at least take a “first step” towards a ceasefire, during a recent call involving Trump, Zelenskyy, and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. While acknowledging the potential “shift” in Russia’s position, the Ukrainian leader was unequivocal: “Talks about us, without us, will not work.”

Furthermore, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s unwavering refusal to withdraw its forces from the Russian-occupied Donbas region. He warned that abandoning Donbas would be an invitation to a “third war,” emphasizing its strategic importance for Russia’s future offensives.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the upcoming Trump-Putin summit as primarily “a listening exercise” for President Trump, aimed at gaining a better understanding of how to potentially end the conflict. This marks the first in-person meeting between Putin and a sitting U.S. president since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago.

Despite Trump’s expressed optimism for a “constructive” meeting and his ambition to facilitate a future trilateral summit involving himself, Putin, and Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President remains skeptical. Zelenskyy stressed the vital importance of European leaders’ presence in any such discussions, citing their role in providing security guarantees to Ukraine. He also suggested that the Alaska summit would primarily benefit Putin, seeing it as an opportunity for the Russian leader to gain a symbolic “photograph” with President Trump.

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