European leaders and Ukraine's President Zelenskyy aim to negotiate with U.S. President Trump regarding Ukraine's affairs
The leaders of Europe, the United States, and Ukraine are set to convene for a video conference today, with the aim of finding a common ground before US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The discussion will focus on ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict through a comprehensive peace deal, rather than just a temporary ceasefire [1][2][3].
The meeting, hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, will include heads of state and government from France, the UK, Italy, Poland, Finland, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Council President António Costa, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Vice President JD Vance will also join the conversation, starting at 15:00 CET [4].
The expected outcomes of the discussion include encouraging President Zelensky to accept some Russian conditions, such as ceding Crimea and pledging not to join NATO, as part of a peace agreement to end the war [1]. The leaders will also aim to secure stronger security guarantees for Ukraine than those in the past, addressing Zelensky’s concerns, while Russia has not yet clearly accepted such guarantees [1].
The focus will shift from demanding an immediate ceasefire to pursuing a long-term peace settlement, reflecting Trump’s changing tactics after his meeting with Putin [1][2]. The leaders will also confirm their shared support for a trilateral meeting with Putin, although Putin has historically resisted such talks [3].
The US will position itself as the mediator that can bring both Russia and Ukraine to the table for negotiations, with recognition that both sides will need to compromise to reach a deal [5].
However, President Zelensky has ruled out any decisions on Ukraine at the Alaska summit before the upcoming video conferences [7]. He has also expressed concerns that if Ukraine were to abandon its positions in the Donbass, Putin's troops could later advance towards Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk [6].
Trump, on the other hand, does not want to continue paying for Ukraine's defense effort and has not yet made any promises for security guarantees in favor of Ukraine [8].
After the video conference, Merz plans to discuss the results with members of the "Coalition of the Willing," led by Germany, France, and the UK [9]. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for security guarantees for Ukraine [10].
The ultimate goal of the meeting is to clarify the parameters for a peace deal and to demonstrate unified Western support ahead of the next major diplomatic engagement with Russia scheduled in Alaska [1][2][3][5].
References:
- BBC News
- Reuters
- Politico
- Deutsche Welle
- The Washington Post
- The Guardian
- AP News
- CNN
- Deutsche Welle
- BBC News
- During the video conference, the leaders will discuss policies and legislation regarding war-and-conflicts, specifically focusing on resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict through a comprehensive long-term peace deal, including potentially accepting some Russian conditions such as ceding Crimea and pledging not to join NATO.
- As a result of the meeting, politics and general news will likely revolve around the outcomes of the discussions, particularly Western support for a trilateral meeting with Putin, unified Western backing for Ukraine's security, and the US as the potential mediator for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
