U.S. President Donald Trump held a conference call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders ahead of his scheduled summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, August 15, 2025. During the call, discussions included potential locations for a follow-up trilateral meeting involving Trump, Putin, and Zelensky, with possible venues in Europe and the Middle East, though Trump indicated that remaining in Alaska would be the easiest option. Trump stated that if the initial meeting with Putin goes well, he intends to promptly arrange a second meeting with both Putin and Zelensky. Conversely, he said he would not initiate further talks if the meeting is unsuccessful. Zelensky also expressed support for a trilateral summit with Trump and Putin, emphasizing its necessity for reaching an agreement on the Ukraine conflict. When asked about economic incentives related to the Putin meeting, Trump declined to comment. The call and subsequent diplomatic activity have raised questions about the nature of any potential deal emerging from the summit.