Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky will meet ahead of Vladimir Putin talks, The White House confirms

The White House has confirmed that US President Donald Trump will hold a virtual meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies on Wednesday (local time).

Mr Zelensky, along with other European leaders, is expected to use the opportunity to defend their security interests ahead of Mr Trump’s upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, where the ongoing war in Ukraine will be a central topic.

Mr Zelensky is reportedly desperate to exert some influence over the Alaskan meeting from which he has been sidelined.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the leaders said that they “welcome the efforts of President Trump towards ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.” But, they emphasised, “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.”

“A just and lasting peace that brings stability and security must respect international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and that international borders must not be changed by force,” they said.

Mr Zelensky said in a social media post on Tuesday that “we all support President Trump’s determination, and together we must shape positions that will not allow Russia to deceive the world once again.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed that the bilateral meeting had been proposed by Mr Putin, and that Mr Trump agreed to get a “better understanding” of how to end the war.

“Only one party that’s involved in this war is going to be present, and so this is for the President to go and to get a more firm and better understanding of how we can hopefully bring this war to an end,” Ms Leavitt told reporters.

“You need both countries to agree to a deal.”

Mr Trump will meet one-on-one with Mr Putin during the talks, which will take place in Anchorage, Alaska, the White House said.

He may, in the future, also visit Russia.

“Perhaps there are plans in the future to travel to Russia,” Ms Leavitt said.

Key issues remain ahead of the talks.

Mr Trump has said the two sides will need to cede land to end the bloody three and a half-year-old conflict.

Mr Zelensky has said his country’s constitution prohibits such a deal and that no arrangements can be made without Ukraine’s participation in talks.

The White House declined to comment on conversations taking place prior to the Putin meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky.

Mr Trump said on Monday that Mr Zelensky may be invited to a future meeting with Mr Putin.

“The President has deep respect for all parties that are involved in this conflict and are trying to bring this conflict to an end,” Ms Leavitt said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had consulted ahead of the summit, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow and US officials said on Tuesday.

Mr Lavrov and Mr Rubio expressed their hopes that the details discussed would be successful, the ministry said.

The brief statement about the phone call did not provide further specifics.

Mr Trump presents the meeting in Alaska as an attempt to move closer to ending the fighting in Ukraine.

In this context, he spoke of a possible exchange of territories between Ukraine and Russia.

Mr Zelensky said on Tuesday Ukraine will not relinquish the eastern part of the country occupied and controlled by Russia.

He stressed in a conversation with reporters that the country could not and would not give up Donbass, largely made up of the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk.

“Donbass would be a springboard for the Russians for a new, future attack,” he said.

with DPA, Reuters