Diplomatic discussions between European leaders and Trump regarding Ukraine are scheduled prior to his encounter with Putin.
In a series of recent developments, European leaders have expressed their support for the inclusion of Ukraine in any peace talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The discussions, scheduled to take place in Alaska, aim to resolve the ongoing three-year war.
The European Union has emphasised the importance of Kyiv and European powers being part of any deal to end the Ukraine war. This stance was reiterated in a joint statement over the weekend, where several European leaders urged Trump to exert more pressure on Russia. The statement made it clear that "the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been vocal about his concerns ahead of the EU talks, warning against capitulating to Putin's demands. In a statement published on Twitter, Zelensky stated that concessions do not persuade a killer.
The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has stated that any US-Russia deal to end the war must include Ukraine and the EU. Kallas also asserted that the US has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously. The idea of a US-Russia meeting without Zelensky has raised concerns that a deal could require Ukraine to cede swaths of territory, which the EU has rejected.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has invited leaders from Finland, France, the UK, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, the heads of the European Commission and Council, the secretary general of NATO, the US president and his deputy to virtual talks. This call is expected to include the European leaders, Zelensky, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Following this first conference call, a joint call with Trump and Vice President JD Vance is anticipated, according to Germany's Bild daily. The talks are scheduled two days before Trump is set to meet with Putin in Alaska.
The discussions aim to discuss further options to exert pressure on Russia and preparation for possible peace negotiations regarding territorial claims and security. Additionally, European leaders and Zelensky have expressed unity on the need for mutual concessions to end the war, while ensuring that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remain key components of any peace talks.
Russia's defense ministry claimed to have captured the village of Fedorivka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. However, Ukraine claimed to have hit a facility that produces missile components in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region, resulting in one death and two injuries.
As the talks approach, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that upholds Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The European leaders' cautiously supportive but fundamentally reactive approach to Trump’s initiative stresses Ukraine's security and sovereignty, with proposals for a "Coalition of the Willing" that might include stationing forces inside Ukraine to enforce peace agreements, supported by U.S. intelligence, logistics, and air power without "boots on the ground."
[1] Source: BBC News [2] Source: The New York Times
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