11 Aug 2025, 06:45
European leaders support Ukraine ahead of the meeting between Trump and Putin
- European leaders reaffirm their support for Ukraine ahead of the meeting between Trump and Putin.
- Zelensky emphasized the importance of a just peace for Ukraine.
- The unresolved issue regarding territorial concessions from Ukraine remains a key topic of negotiations.
European countries have expressed their support for Ukraine ahead of the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which will take place on September 15 in Alaska. EU leaders stressed that peace in this war cannot be achieved without the participation of Kyiv.
Trump stated that the meeting will discuss the ongoing war, which has lasted for four years already. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked European allies for their support, noting that the end of the war must be just.
The statement from European leaders was prepared after it became known that Trump is ready to hold a bilateral meeting with Putin, which raised concerns that Kyiv might be forced to make territorial concessions or accept other limitations on its sovereignty.
EU leaders, including France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Finland, reaffirmed the necessity of a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, including reliable security guarantees. They also confirmed that international borders should not be altered by force.
Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine will not cede any part of its territory. Meanwhile, experts point out that the Kremlin is pushing for Ukraine to agree to concessions in exchange for a withdrawal of Russian troops.
It is currently unclear whether Trump will manage to extract concessions from Putin, as the positions of Moscow and Kyiv remain very distant.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reported that European leaders are intensively preparing for the summit in Alaska, hoping that Zelensky will also receive an invitation.
Another important topic will be the possibility of introducing new sanctions against Russia, which it cannot evade in the face of concessions.
Tags: Ukraine/Europe/Politics