Ukraine's Zelensky Says Putin Will Benefit From Trump Meeting in 3 Ways

 

Why Zelensky Thinks Putin Gains More from His Meeting with Trump

In a recent interview, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined why he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin stands to gain from his upcoming meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska.

Trump and Putin are set to meet on Friday to discuss possible ways to end the war in Ukraine—a war Putin started with the full-scale invasion in February 2022. The White House confirmed the meeting was requested by Putin, and notably, Zelensky has not been invited.

While Trump has previously claimed he could end the war within 24 hours of taking office, those promises haven’t materialized. Officials are now framing this meeting as more of a “listening” and “fact-finding” session rather than a negotiation.

When asked what Putin might take away from the meeting, Zelensky didn’t hold back:

Symbolic Victory – Meeting on U.S. soil would be seen as a personal win for Putin.

Breaking Isolation – Being welcomed in the U.S. helps him appear less isolated internationally.

Sanctions Delay – The meeting could buy him time and possibly slow down U.S. sanctions.

The choice of location—Alaska—is also noteworthy. Not only is it U.S. territory, but it’s a place Russia once sold to America in 1867, adding a historical twist.

This will be the first time Putin meets an American president since 2021, when he met Joe Biden, months before invading Ukraine. In recent comments, Trump hinted at possible “territory swaps” between Russia and Ukraine, an idea Zelensky firmly rejected: “We will not give our land to an occupier.”

That statement apparently irritated Trump, who said he “very severely” disagreed with Zelensky. Despite this tension, the two leaders are scheduled for another phone call with European officials joining in.

Zelensky also shared that during a recent call with Trump, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, and European leaders, he was told Russia may be signaling interest in a ceasefire. However, he remains skeptical, pointing out that Russian military actions—such as troop redeployments—look more like preparations for new offensives rather than peace.

Ukrainian soldiers share that skepticism. A drone unit commander known as “Buda” told the Associated Press that Russia is not interested in real negotiations: “The only option is to defeat them.” Another soldier in Zaporizhzhia, using the call sign “Warsaw,” said: “We are on our land, we have no way out. So we stand our ground.”

Meanwhile, Putin has also briefed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un about the upcoming talks, highlighting the growing Russia–North Korea partnership since the invasion began. North Korea has even sent troops to fight alongside Russian forces.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t rule out the possibility of Trump visiting Russia in the future, saying only, “perhaps.”