Payam Javan: With a high-stakes meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for August 15 in Alaska, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has demanded Kyiv’s direct involvement in the talks. Zelenskyy reiterated his firm opposition to any territorial concessions to Russia, warning that bypassing Ukraine would undermine the legitimacy of any peace arrangement.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also voiced strong reservations about a settlement that could embolden Moscow. Speaking ahead of the Alaska summit, Merz stressed that lasting peace cannot be achieved by rewarding aggression and called for European nations to play a more active role in shaping the outcome of negotiations.

The upcoming Trump-Putin dialogue is being closely watched in both Washington and European capitals, amid fears that sidelining Ukraine or diluting Western unity could weaken collective leverage over Moscow. Diplomatic sources say the meeting could mark a pivotal moment in the war’s trajectory — but only if all key stakeholders are at the table.