Discussions between Merz and Selenskyy on the planned video meeting with Trump
In a significant prelude to the highly anticipated Alaska summit, Chancellor Friedrich Merz convened a virtual roundtable meeting with the heads of state and government of France, Britain, Italy, Poland, Finland, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Council President António Costa, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj. The meeting, held at the Chancellery in Berlin, was followed by a video conference with US President Donald Trump and his deputy JD Vance.
The exact nature of the discussions during the roundtable remains undisclosed, but it is known that various topics were addressed. The meeting is believed to have a significant impact on the outcome of the Alaska summit, which is eagerly awaited by many.
As of late August 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his administration firmly stand against any territorial concessions to Russia. Ukraine has declared it does not intend to cede any part of its land or hold referenda to enshrine territorial concessions in its Constitution. This stance remains resolute, even in the face of pressures and concerns from some European leaders and US figures.
On the Russian side, President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Ukraine cede the entire eastern Donbas region, renounce NATO membership ambitions, and establish neutrality, threatening continued hostilities otherwise. However, Ukrainian leadership has outright rejected these demands.
European and US officials remain concerned about potential territorial concessions due to fears that Russia’s demands would dangerously undermine Ukraine's sovereignty and security guarantees. However, the reality on the ground suggests that Russian forces face significant operational challenges and have not made substantial territorial gains recently.
The Alaska summit is expected to be a pivotal event in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. As the international community gathers to discuss the future of this conflict, the resolute stance of Ukrainian leadership against territorial concessions remains a key point of discussion.
- The EU Commission, which has also been consulted on the draft budget for the financial year 2000, is likely to have policy and legislation discussions regarding the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine during the Alaska summit, given the significant impact of the territorial concessions issue on its politics and general news.
- Incorporating the perspectives of various governments and intergovernmental organizations, such as NATO and the EU, the Alaska summit might develop policies to further support Ukraine's sovereignty in the face of potential Russian aggression, comprising general news, politics, and policy-and-legislation topics, as well as war-and-conflicts concerns.
