Ukraine’s Zelenskyy is due to meet with European leaders first, in preparation for a virtual call with Trump and Vance about an hour later.

Sentiment toward Russia in Alaska has cooled since Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022. The Anchorage Assembly voted unanimously to suspend its three-decade-long sister city relationship with Magadan, Russia, and the Juneau Assembly sent its sister city of Vladivostock a letter expressing concern.

Volodymyr Zelensky said in a new interview that he believes Vladimir Putin will significantly "benefit" from his meeting with Trump.