TRANSCRIPT
Without an invite to the Anchorage summit, Volodymyr Zelenskyy instead travelled to Berlin, joining the German Chancellor for a virtual meeting of European allies and Donald Trump - a final chance to urge the American President not to sell Ukraine out when he meets Vladimir Putin.
"I told the U.S. President and all our European colleagues that Putin is bluffing, he is trying to put pressure before the meeting in Alaska along all part of the Ukrainian front, Russia is trying to show that it can occupy all of Ukraine. Of course, this is their desire."
Europe has been concerned the US President will seek to coerce Ukraine into an unfavourable deal, which could have long-term security implications for the entire continent.
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz laid out his concerns directly to Trump:
“Fundamental European and Ukrainian security interests must be safeguarded in Alaska. That was the message we, as Europeans, conveyed to U.S. President Trump today.”
Trump reportedly agreed with his European counterparts that a ceasefire will be his primary aim, suggesting he - and they - are largely on the same page.
TRUMP: “We had a very good call. He was on the call. President Zelenskyy was on call. I would rate it a 10, you know, very, very friendly.”
REPORTER: "ll Russia face any consequences if Vladimir Putin does not agree to stop the war after your meeting on Friday?"
TRUMP: "Yes, they will.
REPORTER: "What will be the consequences..."
TRUMP: " There will be consequences."
REPORTER: "Sanctions, tariffs?"
TRUMP: "There will. I don't have to say. They will be very severe consequences."
As for floated ‘territory swaps’ between Ukraine and Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron revealed the topic is unlikely to be discussed on Friday.
“The question of occupied territories will be crucial elements of a peace negotiation. They are inseparable from the peace guarantees brought to the rest of the Ukrainian territory and to Europe, and so they cannot be discussed without the presence of the Ukrainian president at the table.”
For now, the Kremlin does not appear in the mood for compromise, confirming President Putin still wants Ukraine to surrender the four partially occupied regions Russia claims as its own.
Alexei Fadeev is a spokesman for Russia’s foreign ministry.
"Speaking about the principal position on the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, you are totally right, Russia's position remains unchanged, and it was voiced in this very hall just over a year ago, on June 14, 2024."
President Zelenskyy again calling for a tri-lateral meeting - himself, Trump and Putin.
“It is impossible to solve this without Ukraine. And, by the way, everyone supports this."
President Trump is hinting plans are already in motion…
“If the first one goes okay, we'll have a quick second one. I would like to do it almost immediately. And we'll a quick-second meeting between President Putin and President Zelenskyy and myself, if they'd like to have me there.”
But the Russian president seems in no rush for that to happen.
He has got what he wanted: ANOTHER one-on-one meeting with the most powerful leader on the planet, with Kyiv and Europe forced to watch from the sidelines, waiting to see what comes out of tomorrow’s talks at this Alaskan airbase.
