"Maybe I'll say, 'Good luck, keep fighting.' Or maybe I'll say, 'We can make a deal,'" said US President Donald Trump. But he also recently mentioned a "territorial swap" between Russia and Ukraine as a possibility, which has sparked much comment and debate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on the other hand, has ruled out giving territory to Russia in exchange for an end to the fighting. Trump responded: Zelensky's stance on the issue "concerned me a little bit," because according to the US president, "there will be some kind of exchange."
"I'll be there if they need me," he said.
Expectations from the meeting
Regarding the meeting on Friday (15.08.2025), Donald Trump further stated that he expects a "constructive conversation". "I will talk to Vladimir Putin and I will tell him: 'You have to end this war.'"
The US president also suggested a future trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelensky. "The next meeting will be with Zelensky and Putin. I'll be there if they need me," Trump said.
The meeting in Alaska will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trump and Putin have spoken several times on the phone in recent months but have not met in person.
Chancellor Merz invites to virtual meetings
Concerned that Trump and Putin could make decisions without Ukraine and its Western allies, which would force Ukraine to make concessions, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for virtual talks ahead of the meeting. Trump and Zelensky are also expected to participate in the videoconferences, according to government spokesman Stefan Kornelius.
Kornelius explained that rounds of talks are planned with the heads of state and government of Germany, France, Great Britain, Finland, Italy, Poland and Ukraine.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Council President António Costa, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Trump's Vice President JD Vance are also expected to attend.
EU supports Ukraine
On Monday, EU foreign ministers met and expressed their support for Ukraine. The meeting was hosted by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas. The leaders of 26 of the 27 EU member states insisted that Ukraine's interests be taken into account.
"Ukrainians must be able to decide freely about their future," the heads of state and government said in a statement issued by the European Council on Tuesday morning. Hungary did not support the statement.
Meanwhile, fighting is taking place on the ground. The sides have attacked each other and are talking about successes. There are also reports of numerous deaths and destruction, but also of desertions of soldiers./DW
