Trump-Putin Alaska summit ends, no deal reached

U.S. President Donald Trump (R, Rear) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (L, Rear) arrive for a joint press conference after concluding their talks in Anchorage, Alaska, the United States, on Aug. 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

Worries of Europe

Similar to a virtual meeting held on Wednesday before the Alaska summit, Trump, on his return flight after the meeting, had phone conversations with Zelensky and several other European leaders to brief them on his talks with Putin.

Zelensky announced after the calls that he would visit the White House on Monday to discuss "all of the details" regarding ending the conflict.

The talks covered the possible establishment of a trilateral format between Ukraine, the United States and Russia, he said, voicing support for Trump's proposal for such a meeting.

Zelensky also underscored the importance of ensuring that European countries are involved in the peace process in order to provide Ukraine with reliable security guarantees together with Washington.

Worries about being marginalized have been growing across Europe in recent days, due to the absence of European voices at the Alaska summit.

In a joint statement following the phone call with Trump, leaders of the European Union (EU), France, Italy, Germany, Britain, Finland and Poland reiterated support for "ironclad security guarantees" for Ukraine and a trilateral summit "with European support."

"European leaders are able to inform Trump of their ideas, and the U.S. will brief them on the summit outcomes, but Europe is in the position that the Ukraine conflict outcomes are being negotiated over its head and the continent's leadership is essentially an observer," said Neil Melvin, director of International Security at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, ahead of the meeting.

"While Moscow and Washington decide our fate, we're left out in the cold," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday, explaining why Hungary did not join a joint EU statement on Ukraine.

"It's simple really: sit at the table or you'll find yourself on the menu," he said.