KYIV: Ukraine’s European allies have reaffirmed their support for Kyiv, declaring that any peace negotiations with Russia must directly involve Ukraine.
This united stance was outlined in a joint statement from leaders of the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission. The statement was released just ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
While a White House official indicated that Trump is open to including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a possible three-way summit, the event currently remains a bilateral meeting between Trump and Putin, as initially requested by Moscow, according to BBC.
President Zelensky has strongly opposed the idea of any agreements being reached without Ukraine’s involvement, calling such moves “dead decisions.” Trump has floated the possibility of beginning talks with Putin alone but has also expressed optimism about arranging a broader trilateral dialogue.
However, it remains uncertain whether Putin would agree to Zelensky’s participation. The Russian leader has avoided direct talks with Zelensky and the two have not met in person since Russia launched its full-scale invasion over three years ago.
On Friday, Trump suggested that territorial exchanges might be part of a future peace settlement—a notion Zelensky swiftly condemned. “We will not reward Russia for its aggression,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram, emphasizing that any decision made without Ukraine would undermine the prospect of peace.
He further criticized Russia’s apparent proposal to swap one part of Ukrainian territory for another, warning that such arrangements would only provide Moscow with better positions to continue the war.
Meanwhile, CBS News reported that the White House is quietly encouraging European governments to accept a deal in which Russia would retain control of the entire Donbas region and Crimea.
European leaders pushed back in their Saturday night statement, stressing that borders cannot be redrawn through force. “Ukraine has the sovereign right to determine its own future,” they said, pledging continued diplomatic, military, and financial support for Kyiv.
(Inputs from BBC)
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