EU Leaders Issue Urgent Plea to Trump as Putin Summit Looms Amid Ukraine Offensive
EU Leaders Issue Urgent Plea to Trump as Putin Summit Looms Amid Ukraine Offensive
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders today, Tuesday, made a direct appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump, urging him to prioritize and defend European security interests at his highly anticipated summit with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin later this week. The plea comes as the EU, feeling sidelined from the crucial negotiations on the ongoing war in Ukraine, seeks to exert influence over the meeting.
The urgency is amplified by critical developments on the ground, with Russian forces reportedly on the verge of a significant territorial gain in Ukraine. Military analysts suggest the next 24-48 hours are crucial as Russia rapidly infiltrates positions north of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Losing Pokrovsk would grant Russia a key battlefield victory just ahead of Friday’s summit and complicate Ukrainian supply lines.
President Trump, who spoke with reporters yesterday, Monday, August 11, has indicated his intent to gauge Putin’s seriousness about ending the four-year conflict. However, his previous statements suggesting Ukraine may need to cede territory and Russia accept land swaps have caused apprehension among European allies and Kyiv.
In a joint statement released early today, EU leaders “welcome the efforts of President Trump towards ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.” Yet, they firmly underlined that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine” and that “international borders must not be changed by force.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vehemently rejected any notion of giving up land for a ceasefire. His adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, warned that anything short of Russia’s strategic defeat would result in peace on Moscow’s terms, undermining international law.
The Europeans are set to make a fresh attempt to rally Trump to Ukraine’s cause tomorrow, Wednesday, during virtual meetings convened by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Trump has not confirmed participation but stated he would gather “everybody’s ideas” before meeting Putin. Concerns also linger over Trump’s apparent public rehabilitation of Putin and his critical remarks about Zelenskyy.
Beyond the diplomatic maneuvers, the conflict continues to claim lives. A Russian missile attack on a Ukrainian military training facility left one soldier dead and 11 wounded, with cluster munitions reportedly used against soldiers rushing to shelters.
While the joint statement aimed for unity, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Putin, notably refused to endorse it, highlighting ongoing divisions within the bloc regarding support for Ukraine.
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