Trump Pushes for Meeting with Putin in United States
In a significant development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been actively seeking the support of European leaders to bolster Ukraine's position in the ongoing negotiations to end the destructive war with Russia.
Zelensky plans to have phone conversations with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. These discussions are aimed at coordinating positions at the European level[1].
The war between Russia and Ukraine, which has been raging for over three years, is not just a conflict against Ukraine, but also in Europe and against Europe, according to Zelensky[2]. He believes that a stronger European influence is necessary in the negotiations to ensure a peaceful resolution that preserves Ukraine's sovereignty and democracy[1].
European leaders have echoed Zelensky's sentiments, insisting that Ukraine should be the one to decide its own future without external imposition of unfavorable terms[3]. Together, they have set clear "red lines" ahead of U.S.-Russia discussions, aimed at preventing any deal that might enable Russia to regroup or threaten Ukraine’s sovereignty[1].
Trump's stance on whether he will seek a stronger European influence in the talks is unclear[1]. However, Trump has expressed a desire to quickly end the war between Russia and Ukraine[4]. It's important to note that Trump's Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, met with Putin in Geneva in summer 2021[5].
Trump has stated that it's entirely up to Putin whether to meet Zelensky or not[6]. This would be the first personal meeting between a sitting U.S. President and Putin since summer 2021.
In summary, European leaders are rallying behind Zelensky as Ukraine pushes for a stronger influence in the U.S.-Russia talks. This collaboration aims to fortify Ukraine's negotiation stance by promoting Ukrainian sovereignty and self-determination and resisting peace proposals that might compromise Ukraine's territorial integrity or political legitimacy[3][1].
Other European leaders are also planning discussions with Zelensky, aligning with his call for a stronger European influence in the war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine. Politics surrounding general-news indicate that these leaders aim to fortify Ukraine's negotiation stance by promoting Ukrainian sovereignty and self-determination, resisting peace proposals that might compromise Ukraine's territorial integrity or political legitimacy.
