President Donald Trump held virtual meetings with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, NATO leaders, and European officials ahead of his scheduled summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Trump expressed hope for a second meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, but the outcome depends on Friday’s talks. The U.S. president warned that severe consequences would follow if Russia doesn’t agree to end the war.
Zelenskyy said Putin is “bluffing” and wants to occupy Ukraine, urging allies to keep up sanctions on Moscow. Ukrainian leaders want security guarantees and European involvement in negotiations.
NATO officials expressed concerns that discussions excluding Kyiv could favor Moscow. General Sir Richard Shirreff stated that an end to the war requires Ukraine’s NATO membership.
The Trump-Putin summit will take place at a U.S. military base in Alaska, with few viable options for hosting the talks due to peak tourist season. White House officials described the meeting as a listening exercise for Trump, but former NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe Shirreff said Putin’s maximalist demands are impossible for Ukraine to accept without capitulation.
The meeting has sparked concerns about the outcome and potential consequences for Russia.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-war-trump-zelenskyy-nato-nations-virtual-meeting-trump-putin-summit