Zelenskyy and Europeans meet with Trump for discussions
Headline: High-Level Dialogue on Ukraine-Russia Conflict: No Clear Position on Territorial Concessions
The virtual Ukraine conference held in Berlin on Thursday saw the participation of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and other world leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
The meeting, which was not strictly about diplomacy according to Sahra Wagenknecht, Chairwoman of BSW, was seen as a special signal of solidarity with Kiev by Chancellor Merz, ahead of the Alaska summit between Trump and Putin. However, Wagenknecht's criticism suggests a potential issue with the perceived impartiality of Germany in the Ukraine conflict.
Wagenknecht accused Zelensky of being uncompromising and losing support among the Ukrainian population. She stated that Zelensky sitting next to Merz in the Chancellery during the video summit has little to do with diplomacy. The federal government, she said, should not so obviously take Zelensky's side.
Consultations between Zelensky, European leaders, and former U.S. President Trump before the Alaska meeting indicate some dialogue on Ukraine-Russia territorial compromises. Trump signaled willingness to consider U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, but details were sparse. European leaders supported continued sanctions on Russia and reaffirmed solidarity with Ukraine, emphasizing pressure on Russia’s war economy until peace is achieved.
Regarding territorial concessions, Trump stated that discussions would include potential "exchanges" of territory as part of ending the war, suggesting both Ukraine and Russia might need to make some sacrifices. However, no formal or unified stance from Zelensky or European leaders on territorial concessions has been made public.
In the White House summit on August 19, 2025, Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders met after Trump’s recent summit with Putin. They collectively expressed interest in a ceasefire and discussed a trilateral summit involving Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin, though Putin remains resistant to such talks.
The ongoing dialogue remains preliminary and contingent on Russia’s participation and acceptance of terms. The talks remain a source of unrest, with no confirmed common position or concrete agreement on Ukraine-Russia territorial concessions emerging yet.
References: [1] The New York Times [2] BBC News [3] Politico
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