President Donald Trump on Monday characterized his upcoming discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin as an early “feel-out meeting” aimed at understanding Moscow’s stance on how to bring the conflict in Ukraine to an end.
The meeting, which will take place on Friday in Alaska, marks the first direct engagement between the two leaders since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Trump, who has consistently criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for rejecting the idea of making territorial compromises, explained that he intends to hear Putin’s suggestions before relaying them to European Union and NATO leaders, as well as to Zelensky himself.
“This is really a feel-out meeting,” Trump said during remarks at the White House. “We’re going to see what he has in mind and if it’s a fair deal, I’ll reveal it… I may say — lots of luck, keep fighting. Or I may say, we can make a deal.”
In Europe, leaders have voiced unease that Trump and Putin might attempt to push Kyiv into “unacceptable compromises.” Ahead of the summit, EU leaders are set to hold separate talks with both Trump and Zelensky on Wednesday. They released a statement stressing that any peace agreement must uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, with its borders unchanged by force.
Trump has argued that “some swapping” of land will be unavoidable, a position firmly opposed by Zelensky, who has refused to surrender any territories occupied by Russia.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for a virtual meeting involving EU and NATO leaders to consider intensifying pressure on Moscow, explore possible negotiations, and discuss security guarantees. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned against giving in to Russia’s demands, saying that concessions have “never worked in the past with Russia, and will not work with Putin today.”
On the battlefield, Russia’s defense ministry announced on Monday that its forces had seized the village of Fedorivka in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, signaling continued heavy fighting despite the ongoing diplomatic maneuvering.
What you should know
Trump’s upcoming meeting with Putin will be their first face-to-face encounter since the war began, and while he has pledged to end the conflict swiftly, both sides remain far apart on the terms for peace.
Putin’s conditions, which Ukraine has already dismissed, include withdrawing from contested areas, adopting a position of neutrality, and forgoing military aid from the West.
