The White House is weighing whether to invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to join next week’s historic meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, according to NBC News.
The White House and the Kremlin confirmed Friday that the two leaders will meet on Friday, Aug. 15, to discuss a possible end to the war in Ukraine.
A senior US official and three individuals briefed on internal talks, likely with permission to leak the news, told NBC News that the Trump administration is actively considering bringing Zelenskyy into the discussions.
“It’s being discussed,” one person familiar with the talks said, noting that no final decision has been made and it remains unclear whether the Ukrainian leader would travel to Alaska.
One official said it is “absolutely” possible that Zelenskyy could attend, adding, “Everyone is very hopeful that would happen.”
When asked if an official invitation had been extended, another White House official responded: “The president remains open to a trilateral summit with both leaders. Right now, the White House is focusing on planning the bilateral meeting requested by President Putin.”
On Friday, Trump told reporters at the White House that negotiations over Ukraine were advancing rapidly and may involve swapping of territories. Zelenskyy is reportedly dead set against swapping territories.
“We’re getting very close to a deal,” the president said.
The Alaska summit would mark the first in-person meeting between Trump and Putin since the 2024 U.S. presidential election — and potentially the first time the leaders of the US, Russia, and Ukraine have met together since the war began.
