Trump proposes a land swap between Ukraine and Russia as a means to achieve peace.
In the upcoming talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have expressed concerns about the potential outcome of the meeting. The leaders are worried that the meeting might not result in a firm commitment from Russia to cease its military assault on Ukraine.
Zelenskyy's primary concern revolves around the lack of progress towards a ceasefire, as Russia has shown no readiness to halt its military operations, even during the talks. European leaders share similar apprehensions, fearing that Putin might exploit the dialogue to delay or gain political advantage without changing his aggressive course in Ukraine.
There is skepticism that Trump's efforts, although well-intentioned, lack leverage over Putin, given the absence of substantive Russian concessions and the continuation of hostilities during the meeting. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned against any concessions to Moscow.
Trump, however, plans to tell Putin to end the war in Ukraine and has threatened tariffs against buyers of Russian oil. He believes a speedy ceasefire in the three-and-a-half year-old conflict is important. The US president also plans to allow additional US weapons to reach Ukraine.
In preparation for the talks, Trump plans to discuss a future meeting with Zelenskyy. The talks between Trump and Putin are intended as a "feel-out" session to assess Putin's willingness to make peace. The EU, meanwhile, is working on a 19th package of sanctions against Russia.
Zelenskyy has urged countries to maintain sanctions until Ukraine receives security guarantees. He has warned that concessions to Russia "do not persuade a killer." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian counterpart Mark Carney have welcomed diplomatic efforts "to bring peace," but stressed that these must be built "with Ukraine - not imposed upon it."
The EU plans to increase military and budget support for Ukraine. Despite the concerns, all parties involved remain committed to defending Ukraine's sovereignty and security interests. The Alaska summit is set to take place on Friday, with Trump stating that he may say "Good luck" and end the meeting if progress is not possible.
War-and-conflicts continuations remain a concern due to the looming talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are worried that the meeting may not result in a firm commitment from Russia to cease its military assault on Ukraine, as politics intertwine with general news.
Russia's reluctance to halt its military operations during the talks has raised apprehensions among European leaders, who are fearful that Putin might capitalize on the dialogue to delay or gain political advantage without altering his aggressive stance on Ukraine.
