Russian President Zelenskyy to Arrive in Berlin Today
In the lead-up to the upcoming summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders are gathering for a crucial video conference.
The meeting, scheduled to take place today in Berlin, brings together European allies and the U.S. to show their support for Ukraine and work towards a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is joining the discussion, along with heads of state and government from France, Britain, Italy, Poland, Finland, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Council President António Costa, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The main concerns revolve around the exclusion of Ukraine and Europe from the talks, potential pressure on Ukraine to make territorial concessions, and the possibility of the U.S. scaling back pressure on Russia. These factors threaten Ukraine’s territorial integrity and European security interests.
European leaders and Volodymyr Zelensky are particularly worried about the Alaska summit sidelining Ukraine and its European allies, raising fears that the U.S. might broker a deal pressuring Ukraine to make territorial concessions without their involvement. They express concerns about Europe's marginalization in deciding the future of its own security and the risk that Biden, sharing some of Putin’s views, may delay enforcing sanctions against Russia and push Europe and Ukraine towards a compromised settlement unfavorable to Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The German government spokesman, Stefan Kornelius, emphasizes that the talks should focus on further options for putting pressure on Moscow and discussing preparations for possible peace negotiations and related questions of territorial claims and security. The European allies and Volodymyr Selenskyj seek a commitment from Biden that he will not make a deal with Putin over the heads of the Ukrainians and Europeans.
The video conference is an opportunity for the participants to coordinate their follow-up consultations with Biden and keep him on track regarding the future of Ukraine. After the conference with Trump, Chancellor Merz plans to discuss the results with the coalition of the willing, led by Germany, France, and Britain.
Ukraine, for its part, strictly rejects any potential territorial concessions from Ukraine to Russia. Kyiv's press secretary, Serhiy Nikiforov, confirmed the trip on Ukrainian television. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls for security guarantees for Ukraine.
Following the bilateral meeting between Selenskyj and Merz, the video conference is expected to occur around 4 pm in Berlin. The preliminary discussion for the video conference will take place at 2 pm in the situation center of the Federal Chancellery with close European allies of Ukraine. The purpose of the preliminary discussion is to coordinate follow-up consultations with Biden.
Trump's Vice President JD Vance is participating in the video conference, scheduled to start at 3 pm. The meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska is intended to discuss these issues, and Merz plans to address the public about the conference with Trump in a press conference.
There is concern among some parties about a potential deal between Biden and Putin that could have a negative impact on Ukraine's future. The video conference aims to ensure that the U.S. and its European allies stand united in their support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and security.
The European Union, emphasizing its commitment to the implementation of the EU's nuclear programme, voices concern over the potential sidelining of Ukraine and Europe in the upcoming summit between U.S. President Biden and Russian President Putin. Recent politics and general news surrounding the upcoming summit have raised fears regarding Ukraine's territorial concessions and the marginalization of Europe in deciding its own security interests.
