European leaders have welcomed US President Donald Trump’s plans to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on ending the war in Ukraine, but emphasized the need for continued support for Kyiv and pressure on Moscow to achieve a just and lasting peace. The joint statement by France, Italy, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the European Commission stressed that any diplomatic solution to the war must protect Ukraine’s and Europe’s security interests.
“We agree that these vital interests include the need for robust and credible security guarantees that enable Ukraine to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the leaders said, adding that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.” They promised to maintain their “substantial military and financial support for Ukraine” and underlined their “unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has insisted that Kyiv will not surrender land to Russia to buy peace, rejecting any territorial concessions. “A ceasefire is necessary – but the front line is not a border,” said Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, reiterating Kyiv’s position. Yermak thanked US Vice President JD Vance for “respecting all points of view” and his efforts towards a “reliable peace”.
Details of a potential agreement between Trump and Putin have not been announced, but Trump said it would involve “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both”. European representatives have put forward a counterproposal, demanding a ceasefire before any other steps are taken and reciprocal territorial exchanges with firm security guarantees. “You can’t start a process by ceding territory in the middle of fighting,” a European negotiator said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have pledged to find a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine, welcoming Trump’s efforts to end the fighting. Macron stressed the need for Ukraine to play a role in any negotiations, saying “Ukraine’s future cannot be decided without the Ukrainians, who have been fighting for their freedom and security for over three years now”. Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as their own security is at stake, Macron added.
The summit between Trump and Putin is set to take place in Alaska, with the possibility of a trilateral meeting including Zelenskyy. The White House is currently planning a bilateral meeting as requested by the Russian leader. The summit would be the first between sitting US and Russian presidents since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021. Nine months after that meeting, Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.