Trump and Putin prepare for Alaska talks on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine

Preparations are underway for high-stakes talks aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.

(NBC)-Preparations are underway for high-stakes talks aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin this Friday in Alaska. There is a possibility that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will join the meeting.

Vice President J.D. Vance, who met over the weekend in England with top Ukrainian officials and European allies, emphasized the importance of dialogue, saying, “The only way to make peace is to sit down and talk.” During these meetings, they discussed Ukraine’s peace proposals.

Despite ongoing intense attacks by Russia, President Zelenskyy has maintained that Ukraine will not surrender its land to occupiers. This stance contrasts with President Trump’s suggestion that territorial swaps may be necessary. Trump stated, “There’ll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both.”

White House Special Envoy Keith Kellogg is traveling to Ukraine today to continue peace talks. Meanwhile, a senior U.S. official told NBC News that the White House is considering inviting President Zelenskyy to the Alaska meeting. However, Putin has stated that Ukraine has not yet met Russia’s conditions for face-to-face negotiations.

Democrats are pushing for Ukraine to be represented at the summit and are critical of the meeting location. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) said, “Putin is a war criminal. This is not a show of strength to allow him to fly into the United States.”

Republicans have pushed back against this criticism, with some calling for stronger protections for Ukraine. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) emphasized the need for “security guarantees to Ukraine to prevent Russia from doing this again.”