White House spills why Zelensky will not join Trump and Putin for Ukraine peace talk in Alaska

WASHINGTON, DC: As President Donald Trump prepares to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, August 15, to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, a glaring omission has sparked criticism: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy isn’t invited. 

The White House broke its silence Tuesday, August 12, explaining that the meeting was initiated by Putin, and Trump agreed, hoping to gauge Russia’s stance on peace firsthand.

Karoline Leavitt takes questions on Zelensky not being invited to Alaska summit

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed reporters on August 12, responding to questions about why Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not invited to the upcoming summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Leavitt explained that the meeting was initiated at the request of Putin, and Trump agreed with the goal of gaining a clearer understanding of how to end the war in Ukraine.

“The president is agreeing to this meeting, at the request of President Putin,” Leavitt said. "And the goal of this meeting for the president is to walk away with a better understanding of how we can end this war.”

She emphasized the value of a face-to-face discussion between Trump and Putin, saying, “I think the president of the United States getting in the room with the president of Russia, sitting face-to-face rather than speaking over the telephone will give this president the best indication of how to end this war and where this is headed."

When asked whether the meeting is intended to secure a peace deal or simply explore the possibility of one, Leavitt said both outcomes are on the table.

She noted. “I think both can be true, right? The president has always said he wants a peace deal. He wants to see this war come to an end. But this bilateral meeting is a bilateral meeting between one party in this two party war. Right. You need both countries to agree to a deal.”

She added that Trump would share his thoughts on the outcome of the meeting once it concludes.

She said, "The president is accepting this bilateral meeting with Putin on Friday, and I will let him speak further to it after it concludes about how he felt it went."

Trump and Putin are scheduled to meet in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, despite Trump’s earlier remarks suggesting the summit might take place in Russia.

“There were many sites discussed, but of course, Alaska is a state within the United States of America,” Leavitt clarified. “So the president is very honored and looks forward to hosting President Putin on American soil.”

How did Zelensky react to being left out of the upcoming summit?

Volodymyr Zelensky has made it clear that any effort to end the war without Ukraine’s direct involvement is doomed to fail.

In a statement released Saturday, August 9, he emphasized, “Any decisions made against us, any decisions made without Ukraine — they are simultaneously decisions against peace. These are dead decisions; they will never work. And what we all need is a real, living peace, one that people will respect.”

Ukraine’s stance is backed by several European allies. On the same day, a coalition of European leaders issued a joint statement affirming that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.”

Trump told reporters Monday, August 11, that he expects to quickly gauge whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is genuinely interested in negotiating a peace deal. He also acknowledged that resolving the conflict would likely involve addressing territorial disputes, referring to them as "land swapping" issues.

Trump added that he intends to consult with Zelensky, NATO leaders, and the European Union after his meeting with Putin. “If it’s a fair deal,” he said, “I will reveal it to the European Union leaders and the NATO leaders and also to President Zelenskyy. I may say, ‘lots of luck, keep fighting,’ or I may say we can make a deal."

Internet debates over Karoline Leavitt’s explanation of Zelensky’s absence from Alaska summit

A video of Karoline Leavitt explaining why Zelenskyy is excluded from the upcoming Trump-Putin peace talks is going viral, sparking a wave of reactions online.

One user commented, “Exactly. Trump’s summit exists because Putin asked for it — and Trump obeyed. That’s not diplomacy. That’s servitude.”

Another mocked, “Looks like Putin’s calling the tune, and Trump’s dancing.”

One person added, “Sure, leave Zelensky out-Putin already wrote the script, and Trump's just reading his lines.”

Not everyone agreed, with a user accusing, “Putin did not ask Trump to have this meeting. She’s lying again.”

Another questioned, “The next question should be: 'why didn't he say no?'”

Some expressed confusion, with one writing, “I don't understand why Putin is commanding trump so hard.”

Others weighed in, stating, “Trump doesn’t have the authority,” and asking, “So is it justified to decide about Ukraine's future without including Ukraine in the talks?”

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