European allies have rallied around Ukraine in a renewed show of solidarity, stressing that any peace negotiations with Russia include Kyiv. The presidents of the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission published a unified statement ahead of US President Donald Trump’s summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. According to a White House official, Trump is open to arrange a trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but for the time being, the summit will be between Trump and Putin, as requested by the Russian leader. According to Zelensky, any agreements reached without Kyiv will be “dead decisions”.
Trump has previously suggested that he could begin by meeting exclusively with Putin, telling reporters that he intended to “start off with Russia.” However, the US president stated that he believed “we have a shot at” scheduling a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelensky. It’s uncertain whether Putin would agree to this; he’s turned down multiple offers for direct discussions, and the two leaders haven’t met in person since Putin started a full-scale invasion of Ukraine over three years ago. Speaking on Friday, Trump also hinted that there would be “some territorial swapping” in order for Moscow and Kyiv to reach an agreement, to which Zelensky responded sharply.
“We will not reward Russia for what it has perpetrated,” he said on Telegram. “Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace.”
“The Russians… still impose the idea of ‘exchanging’ Ukrainian territory for Ukrainian territory, with consequences that guarantee nothing but more convenient positions for the Russians to resume the war,” he added defiantly.
According to CBS, the White House is attempting to persuade European partners to accept an accord in which Russia would take over the whole Donbas region in eastern Ukraine while maintaining control of the Crimean Peninsula. In a statement issued late Saturday night, European leaders emphasised that “international borders must not be changed by force”. “Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny,” they stated, emphasising that their countries would continue to support Ukraine diplomatically, militarily, and financially.
The leaders also stated that a “diplomatic solution” is needed, not just to defend Ukraine but also to ensure Europe’s security. Not only is Ukraine straining to attend the Alaska meeting. European allies are also concerned about their lack of influence over the result of any deal that Trump may achieve with Putin. In a post on X on Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern over Russia and the US restricting European participation. “Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as their own security is at stake,” according to him. On Sunday, Zelensky thanked the allies for their support.
“The end of the war must be fair, and I am grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine and our people today for the sake of peace in Ukraine, which is defending the vital security interests of our European nations,” stated President Putin. Europe has taken a harsh stance against Moscow, including putting sanctions on Russian organisations and offering military assistance to Ukraine. In a phone discussion with Macron on Saturday, Zelensky stated that the objective was to ensure that “the Russians do not get to deceive anyone again”. “We all need a genuine end to the war and reliable security foundations for Ukraine and other European nations,” Putin added.
Vice President JD Vance took charge of US diplomacy with Europe and Ukraine on Saturday, when he visited the United Kingdom and spoke with Foreign Secretary David Lammy and two of Zelensky’s top advisers. Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelensky’s office, thanked Vance for the discussion and emphasised the importance of Ukraine’s inclusion. “A reliable, lasting peace is only possible with Ukraine at the negotiating table,” said Mr. Putin. “A ceasefire is necessary – but the frontline is not a border.” The summit in Alaska, which Russia surrendered to the United States in 1867, would be the first meeting between sitting US and Russian presidents since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021.
Nine months later, Moscow deployed troops into Ukraine. Despite lack of full authority, the Kremlin announced the annexation of four Ukrainian provinces in 2022: Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Moscow has yet to make a major breakthrough in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but it now controls large portions of the country’s east. Meanwhile, Ukrainian offensives have failed to push back Russian forces.
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