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A senior Ukrainian official stated that it would be “the right thing to do” for U.S. President Donald Trump to invite Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky to the upcoming Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing that no talks on ending the war should take place without Kyiv’s participation. Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of Ukraine’s parliamentary foreign affairs committee, told Newsweek on Sunday that bringing Zelensky into the discussions would align with the principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” His comments followed U.S. media reports suggesting the White House is considering adding the Ukrainian leader to the meeting scheduled for August 15.
The White House is reportedly weighing the possibility of inviting Zelensky, according to an NBC News report on Saturday night. A senior administration official and three people briefed on the discussions confirmed that it “absolutely” remains a possibility, with everyone hoping it would happen. However, Newsweek could not independently verify the report.
Newsweek contacted the White House for comment but received no response from a spokesperson who said in an NBC statement: “The President remains open to a trilateral summit with both leaders. Right now, the White House is focusing on planning the bilateral meeting requested by President Putin.”
Ukraine’s stance was reinforced by joint statements from the U.K., France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who emphasized that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.” They reiterated their commitment to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.
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Trump announced the meeting with Putin on Friday, calling it “highly anticipated.” Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed the meeting, stating that the White House and the Kremlin would work hard on the summit’s agenda. He noted that the presidents will likely focus on discussing ways to reach a sustainable settlement to the Ukraine crisis.
Merezhko expressed concern over Trump’s suggestion of “swapping territories” for mutual benefit, saying it looked like an attempt at appeasement. Oleg Dunda, a Ukrainian MP and member of Zelensky’s party, criticized this approach as impractical and showing Trump’s misunderstanding of the conflict.
Zelensky stated on Saturday that Ukraine’s territorial question is already answered in its Constitution and that no one would deviate from this—Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier. Russia currently controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, particularly in the east since February 2022 when Moscow launched its full-scale invasion.
Putin proposed a ceasefire deal demanding major concessions on territory in eastern Ukraine, notably Donetsk, from Ukraine. European leaders offered a counterproposal after Putin’s meeting with Witkoff, rejecting the idea that Ukraine would cede territory it still holds in Donetsk.
The Kremlin has so far refused to agree to a ceasefire and denied Kyiv’s repeated requests for a face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Putin. Merezhko suggested that if Zelensky joins, Putin might not refuse the summit, proposing that Trump could meet first with Putin in Alaska and then with both leaders the next day.
However, optimism about concrete results from the Alaska meeting is muted in Kyiv. Dunda stated, “I doubt that there will be substantial progress.” Ushakov said Russia had already invited Trump to Russian territory for the “next meeting” between the two presidents.
📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
According to Oleksandr Merezhko, what is the principle that should be followed in discussions about ending the war in Ukraine?
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