U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said that preparations are underway for the U.S.-Russia summit between President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart to be held this week in Alaska.
At a time when Ukraine’s European allies are pressuring for Kyiv’s participation, Vice President Vance said the United States is making efforts to include President Volodymyr Zelensky in the meeting between President Trump and President Putin.
In an interview with Fox News’s program Sunday Morning Futures, Vance said, “The most significant obstacle is that Vladimir Putin has said he will never sit down for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. We are at a point where we are clearly trying to figure out the schedule and other measures. Our effort will be to create an environment in which President Trump, Putin, and Zelensky can sit down and discuss ending this conflict.” He made the remarks when asked about his expectations for the Alaska summit on August 15.
The Vice President said that the United States aims to seek a solution through talks in a way that respects both Ukrainians and Russians. Vance added, “This is not going to make anyone overly happy — both Russians and Ukrainians will probably end the day unhappy with it.” Without Zelensky, the proposed Alaska summit between the U.S. and Russia has raised concerns in Kyiv about the need to reclaim its territory, something the European Union has rejected.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told CNN that Zelensky could attend the summit. On Friday, Zelensky was asked whether he could cooperate with Trump and Putin. “Yes, I think it’s possible,” he said. “Of course, no agreement can happen unless all parties involved agree — ending this war is a top priority for these talks.” Over the past three days, Zelensky has spoken with 13 counterparts, including key supporters Germany, the UK, and France.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed hope that Zelensky would participate in the summit. Whitaker said the final decision would rest with Trump: “If he feels it is the best scenario to invite Zelensky, he can do so. At this point, no decision has been made.” Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, tens of thousands have been killed and millions have been forced from their homes.
