Europe and Ukraine Leaders Urge Talks with Trump Ahead of Crucial US-Russia Summit

Europe and Ukraine Leaders Urge Talks with Trump Ahead of Crucial US-Russia Summit

Europe and Ukraine Leaders Urge Talks with Trump Ahead of Crucial US-Russia Summit

Europe and Ukraine Leaders Urge Talks with Trump Ahead of Crucial US-Russia Summit
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BRUSSELS (AP) — European and Ukrainian leaders are urgently seeking direct talks with U.S. President Donald Trump this week to safeguard their national interests ahead of his impending summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. With the critical U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska scheduled for Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and key European allies face exclusion, raising widespread concerns that Trump and Putin might negotiate land swaps or other terms favoring Russia without their participation.

In response, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has organized a series of high-level meetings for Wednesday. Invitations have been extended to President Trump, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, President Zelenskyy, NATO’s chief, and several European leaders. The German chancellery confirmed that discussions will focus on “further options for action to put pressure on Russia,” alongside “preparations for possible peace negotiations and related issues of territorial claims and security.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with leaders from Britain, Finland, France, Italy, and Poland, are confirmed to participate in these urgent discussions.

Ukraine and its European supporters are adamant that any decisions regarding Ukrainian territory cannot be made without Kyiv’s direct involvement. While acknowledging the difficult reality of Russia’s current occupation of Ukrainian lands, they firmly reject any unilateral land concessions. Trump, speaking to reporters on Monday, hinted at “land swapping” but did not confirm his attendance at Merz’s convened talks, stating, “I’m going to get everybody’s ideas” before meeting Putin.

Concerns are mounting in Europe that Ukraine might be pressured to cede territory or accept limitations on its sovereignty. Ukraine and its allies insist that a ceasefire must precede any discussions on territorial claims. Amidst these diplomatic efforts, a “coalition of the willing” has formed among European nations prepared to deploy troops to Ukraine to enforce future peace agreements. French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Chancellor Merz are coordinating a meeting for this coalition, also on Wednesday, to strategize their collective response.

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