Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed deep concern over U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska without inviting Ukrainian representatives, the Financial Times reported, citing sources close to the Ukrainian leader.
According to the report, the possibility of Trump and Putin discussing the ongoing military conflict behind closed doors has caused “profound concern” in Kyiv.
Zelensky held multiple phone conversations with European leaders on Sunday in an attempt to forge a united stance against any “backroom agreements” that could compromise Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the sources said.
Kyiv is particularly worried that Trump may seek to expedite a resolution to the conflict by accepting Moscow’s position on Crimea, as well as on the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR, LPR) and the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
According to FT, Zelensky and his advisers plan to persuade Trump to adopt a “more rational” approach toward Putin’s demands.
The meeting in Alaska, expected to be highly scrutinized by the international community, comes at a critical time in the conflict, with Kyiv wary that any deal reached without its participation could undermine years of diplomatic and military efforts to restore full sovereignty.