**Trump-Putin Meeting May Include Zelensky, Despite Ukraine’s Concerns**
A historic trilateral meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and US President Donald Trump in Alaska is still a possibility, according to CNN sources. This comes after Trump announced plans to meet with Putin on August 15 in Alaska to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine.
While Zelensky was not mentioned as one of the participants in the initial announcement, the Trump administration has not ruled out meetings involving the Ukrainian president, according to its sources. Zelensky himself confirmed on August 7 that discussions were ongoing about a bilateral and trilateral summit to end the war. However, Moscow has only confirmed plans for a meeting between Putin and Trump, without mentioning Zelensky’s involvement.
**Concerns Over Proposed Peace Plan**
A source within Ukraine’s President’s Office told The Kyiv Independent that Trump and Putin plan to discuss a peace plan that would require Ukraine to withdraw from two territories partly occupied by Russian troops. According to this source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic, the plan involves Ukraine withdrawing its troops from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
However, the source also revealed that Ukraine would outright reject such a proposal. This is in line with Zelensky’s stance on maintaining Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
**Trump’s Ultimatum Expires**
The proposed meeting between Trump and Putin comes just a week after Trump’s ultimatum to Moscow expired. In his previous statement, Trump threatened sweeping secondary tariffs on countries trading with Russia if no ceasefire was agreed upon by then. The fact that the meeting is being planned despite this deadline may indicate that the US administration is considering alternative options for resolving the conflict.
**Deeper Analysis**
The potential inclusion of Zelensky in the trilateral summit raises questions about the motivations behind Trump’s willingness to engage with Putin on Ukraine. While the Trump administration has been critical of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, its reluctance to impose harsher sanctions and support Ukraine militarily suggests a desire for a more diplomatic approach.
The proposed peace plan also highlights concerns over Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Any attempt to force Ukraine to withdraw from occupied territories without addressing Russian aggression would be met with widespread opposition within Ukraine.
Ultimately, the success of any trilateral summit will depend on the ability of all parties to find common ground and address the root causes of the conflict. The potential involvement of Zelensky in these talks serves as a reminder that the fate of Ukraine’s territorial integrity remains at the forefront of this crisis.
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