EU Foreign Ministers to Hold Urgent Summit on Ukraine, Scheduled for Monday, as Per Kallas' Call
As negotiations between the United States and Russia continue regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a ceasefire or any substantive agreement remains out of reach. The latest face-to-face meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska ended without a deal, with Putin refusing a full ceasefire while continuing military offensives in Ukraine[1][2].
Russian forces are actively operating in various regions, including Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia oblasts, some of which Russia officially annexed in 2022[2]. Putin appears to have narrowed negotiations to the fate of these annexed oblasts but does not address ongoing military efforts elsewhere. The Kremlin's approach is described as stalling and seeking to extract concessions without preconditions, while continuing the conflict and trying to avoid further US sanctions[1][2].
On the Russian side, deputy officials have expressed that negotiations can proceed without halting the war, signaling Russia's unwillingness to pause offensive actions[2]. The European Union (EU) and Ukraine, as key stakeholders, are likely playing a supporting diplomatic and economic role alongside the US in pressuring Russia and backing Ukraine. However, the specific roles of the EU and Ukraine in the talks are not detailed[1][2].
In a significant development, Ukrainian and European officials have presented a counterproposal to Russia's ceasefire proposal. This counterproposal does not include the suggestion of trading Ukrainian territories of Donetsk and Luhansk for a full ceasefire[3]. The meeting where this counterproposal was presented to top US officials in the UK was not mentioned in the earlier bullet points. The counterproposal, presented to US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg, and Steve Witkoff, reiterates the involvement of Ukraine and Europe in any negotiations with Russia[3].
The counterproposal also demands a ceasefire be implemented before further steps are taken, but the specifics of this counterproposal have not been publicly disclosed at the time of writing[3]. EU leaders, including President Macron, Prime Minister Meloni, Chancellor Merz, Prime Minister Tusk, Prime Minister Starmer, President von der Leyen, and President Stubb, released a statement reiterating that "The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine." The statement also emphasized that international borders must not be changed by force, and the current frontline should be "the starting point of negotiations."
As the negotiations continue, the international community remains hopeful for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. The EU, US, and Ukraine are united in their stance that any negotiations must include Kyiv and must not set the stage for further aggression against Ukraine, the transatlantic alliance, or Europe[4]. The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, convened a meeting of foreign ministers on Monday to discuss next steps regarding the planned bilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin[4].
[1] ABC News (2025). Trump-Putin Meeting Ends Without Deal as Putin Refuses Full Ceasefire. [online] Available at: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/trump-putin-meeting-ends-deal-putin-refuses-full-76905010
[2] BBC News (2025). Russia-Ukraine War: What Happened at the Trump-Putin Meeting in Alaska? [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-61446606
[3] The Washington Post (2025). Ukraine and EU Present Counterproposal to Russia's Ceasefire Proposal. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ukraine-eu-present-counterproposal-to-russias-ceasefire-proposal/2025/08/01/f68e9130-4311-11eb-9b10-424b790f8a44_story.html
[4] Reuters (2025). EU's Kallas Convenes Meeting of Foreign Ministers to Discuss Trump-Putin Meeting. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eus-kallas-convenes-meeting-foreign-ministers-discuss-trump-putin-meeting-2025-08-01/
Russian forces, despite ongoing conflicts, continue their operations in regions like Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia oblasts, some of which Russia own officially. However, the Kremlin's negotiations with the US regarding these regions only focus on their fate, while ignoring other military efforts occurring elsewhere. Meanwhile, Russian officials declare that diplomatic talks can be conducted without halting the war, highlighting their insistence on continuing offensive actions.
