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U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he is considering a follow-up meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that would include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, pending the outcome of Friday's scheduled summit in Alaska.
Speaking to reporters at the Kennedy Center during an arts event, Trump outlined his diplomatic strategy as he prepares for his first face-to-face meeting with Putin since becoming president. The Anchorage summit marks the first encounter between a sitting U.S. president and the Russian leader since 2021.
"If the first one goes okay, we'll have a quick second one," Trump said. "I would like to do it almost immediately, and we'll have a quick second meeting between President Putin and President Zelenskyy and myself, if they'd like to have me there."
The Alaska meeting comes as Trump attempts to fulfill his campaign promise to broker an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has now stretched into its fourth year. The president repeatedly vowed during the 2024 election to resolve the conflict on his first day in office but has yet to achieve significant progress toward a peace agreement.
Trump's approach has generated concern among Ukrainian officials and European allies, who fear a bilateral U.S.-Russia agreement could force Ukraine into accepting territorial concessions. Zelenskyy's absence from Friday's initial meeting has amplified these worries, particularly as Russia has intensified its military operations in recent weeks.
The president warned of escalating consequences if diplomatic efforts fail. "Russia would face very severe consequences if Putin did not agree to end the war after Friday's meeting," Trump said, though he provided no specifics about potential measures.
Trump's diplomatic push follows his recent threat to impose "secondary sanctions" on countries trading with Russia. However, his self-imposed deadline for such action passed last week without any announced measures.
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The president characterized his recent communications with European leaders, including Zelenskyy, in positive terms. "I would rate it at 10. You know -- very, very friendly," he said, describing what he called a "very good call" with the officials.
The high-stakes Alaska summit represents a critical test of Trump's diplomatic strategy as international pressure mounts for a resolution to the conflict that has reshaped European security and global economic relationships.
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