Fears are mounting in Europe that Ukraine’s fate could be decided without its say, as President Donald Trump confirmed he will meet with Vladimir Putin in Alaska next week, even if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not present. This has fueled concerns that a U.S.-Russia deal could be brokered at Ukraine’s expense.
The summit, set for August 15, is being touted by Trump as a critical step towards peace, with the U.S. president claiming “we’re getting very close.” He hinted at a deal involving territory swaps, which would likely legitimize some of Russia’s illegal annexations and has been met with alarm by allies who champion Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The meeting is set against a backdrop of escalating economic measures. Trump’s own deadline for Russia to make peace or face sanctions falls on the same day as the summit. In parallel, allies like Canada are lowering the price cap on Russian oil to further squeeze the Kremlin’s war machine financially.
Despite Trump’s hopeful rhetoric, the situation on the 1,000-kilometre front line remains grim. Ukrainian soldiers are battling shortages of fighters while holding back Russian advances in Donetsk. Their sentiment, along with analysis from the Institute for the Study of War, suggests Putin remains committed to military victory, not a negotiated peace, making the outcome of the Alaska summit highly uncertain.