Europe to Trump: Stand up for Ukraine when you talk to Putin
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Europe races to try to influence US position ahead of Trump-Putin talks
European leaders and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy will speak to U.S. President Donald Trump this week ahead of his summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Trump announced last week he would meet Putin on Friday in Alaska to negotiate an end to the 3-1/2-year war. Ukraine and its European allies fear that Trump, keen to claim credit for making peace and also hoping to seal lucrative joint business deals with Moscow, could align with Putin to cut a deal that would be deeply disadvantageous to Kyiv. Germany said it was convening a series of top-level video conferences on Wednesday to prepare for the summit including one at 1500 CET (1300 GMT) between European leaders, Zelenskyy, Trump and U.K. Vice President JD Vance. European leaders and EU and NATO officials would coordinate their approach beforehand, a German government spokesperson said. European Union foreign ministers discussed their support for Kyiv and the upcoming meeting in a video conference on Monday afternoon. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X following the discussion on Ukraine: “EU Foreign Ministers today expressed support for US steps that will lead to a just peace”
Item 1 of 2 Rescuers work at the site where a hospital was damaged during a Russian air strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova/File Photo
Summary European leaders to hold virtual meeting with Trump on Wednesday
Hope to sway him to protect Ukrainian interests in Putin meet
Europe worried Trump, Putin could dictate unfavourable terms
BERLIN/BRUSSELS, Aug 11 (Reuters) – European leaders and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy will speak to U.S. President Donald Trump this week ahead of his summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, amid fears Washington may dictate unfavourable peace terms to Ukraine.
Trump announced last week he would meet Putin on Friday in Alaska to negotiate an end to the 3-1/2-year war , which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour.
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Ukraine and its European allies fear that Trump, keen to claim credit for making peace and also hoping to seal lucrative joint business deals with Moscow, could align with Putin to cut a deal that would be deeply disadvantageous to Kyiv.
Germany said it was convening a series of top-level video conferences on Wednesday to prepare for the summit including one at 1500 CET (1300 GMT) between European leaders, Zelenskiy, Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
It will be the first time Zelenskiy and Trump have spoken since the Alaska summit was announced.
European leaders and EU and NATO officials would coordinate their approach beforehand, a German government spokesperson said.
Zelenskiy said on Monday that concessions to Moscow would not persuade it to stop fighting in Ukraine and that there was a need to ramp up pressure on the Kremlin.
“Russia refuses to stop the killings, and therefore must not receive any rewards or benefits,” Zelenskiy wrote on X.
He later held separate phone calls with the leaders of India and Saudi Arabia – which both have cordial ties with Moscow – in an effort to bolster international support for Kyiv’s position ahead of the Trump-Putin talks.
‘WE WILL NOT REWARD AGGRESSION’
European Union foreign ministers discussed their support for Kyiv and the upcoming meeting in a video conference on Monday afternoon.
“Transatlantic unity, support to Ukraine and pressure on Russia is how we will end this war and prevent future Russian aggression in Europe,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X following the discussion on Ukraine.
“EU Foreign Ministers today expressed support for US steps that will lead to a just peace,” Kallas wrote.
“Meanwhile, we work on more sanctions against Russia, more military support for Ukraine and more support for Ukraine’s budgetary needs and accession process to join the EU,” she added.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who participated in the video conference, said in a post on X after the talks that “Russia has been imitating the peace process, twisting, manipulating, and throwing dust in our eyes”.
“No rewards, gifts or appeasement of the aggressor. Every concession invites further aggression,” he said.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told his counterparts on the call that “we support President Trump’s efforts and we see some progress,” according to Italian officials.
“Any diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine’s sovereignty, its territorial integrity, and its freedom to choose its own future, including its path toward the EU,” Tajani said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said London supported Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine but believed Kyiv must be involved in any settlement on ending the fighting.
“We will never trust President Putin as far as you can throw him, but we will support Ukraine and President Trump and European nations as we enter these negotiations,” Starmer’s spokesperson told reporters.
“Any peace must be built with Ukraine, not imposed upon it, and we will not reward aggression or compromise sovereignty.”
The Alaska meeting comes as Trump has hardened his stance towards Moscow, agreeing to allow additional U.S. weapons to reach Ukraine and threatening tariffs against buyers of Russian oil.
Even so, the prospect of Trump hosting Putin – on U.S. soil, in what will be the first meeting between leaders of the United States and Russia since 2021 – has revived fears that he might agree to a deal that forces big concessions from Kyiv or weakens European security.
Trump has said any peace deal would involve “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both” Russia and Ukraine, prompting consternation in Kyiv and European capitals.
“Regarding territorial issues, the Russian position is framed as a territorial swap, but it appears as a rather one-sided swap,” a European Commission official said on Sunday.
Russia currently occupies about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, while Ukraine holds barely any Russian territory.
European leaders have underscored their commitment to the idea that international borders cannot be changed by force, fearing any deal forced on Kyiv could create a dangerous precedent.
“The most robust security guarantee would be that there are no limitations on Ukrainian armed forces and third countries’ support to Ukraine,” the Commission official said.
Reporting by Sarah Marsh in Berlin, Lili Bayer in Brussels, Angelo Amante in Rome and Yuliia Dysa in Kyiv; Writing by Gareth Jones; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Alex Richardson
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Ukraine war latest: All EU nations bar one issue new statement ahead of Putin-Trump summit
EU leaders appeal to Trump – read the statement in full here. 26 EU leaders urge Donald Trump not to exclude Ukraine from talks about its future. “The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine,” they say. “We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests,” they add. “A Ukraine capable of defending itself effectively is an integral part of any future security guarantees”
Here’s the full statement from the 26 EU leaders released overnight, urging Donald Trump not to exclude Ukraine from talks about its future.
“We, the Leaders of the European Union, welcome the efforts of President Trump towards ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and achieving a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine.
“A just and lasting peace that brings stability and security must respect international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and that international borders must not be changed by force.
“The people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future. The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.
“Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities.
“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has wider implications for European and international security. We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests.
“The European Union, in coordination with the US and other like-minded partners, will continue to provide political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine as Ukraine is exercising its inherent right of self-defence.
“It will also continue to uphold and impose restrictive measures against the Russian Federation.
“A Ukraine capable of defending itself effectively is an integral part of any future security guarantees.
“The European Union and Member States are ready to further contribute to security guarantees based on their respective competences and capabilities, in line with international law, and in full respect of the security and defence policy of certain Member States and taking into account the security and defence interests of all Member States.
“The European Union underlines the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny and will continue supporting Ukraine on its path towards EU membership.”
European leaders set to join call with Zelenskyy and Trump on Wednesday, Germany says – as it happpened
Trump hopes for constructive ‘feel out’ meeting with Putin, but says ‘not up to me to make deal’ Says he will call the European leaders to debrief them on the chat shortly after leaving the room. Says he disagrees with what Zelensky has done, but ‘this is a war that should have never happened’ He makes it clear he can negotiate the deal, but it will be up to Ukraine to accept or reject it. He says: “I’d like to see a cease fire.” He adds: ‘It’s very complex, because you have lines that are very uneven’
Speaking in the White House in the last few minutes, US president Donald Trump has claimed his meeting with Putin will “a feel out meeting,” but he thought that the Russian president “wants to get it over with.”
He says:
“I’m going in to speak to Vladimir Putin, and I’m going to be telling him, you have got to end this war, you got to end it.”
He says he hopes for “a constructive” conversation with the Russian president, and says he will call the European leaders to debrief them on the chat shortly after leaving the room.
He then says:
“Then after that meeting, immediately, maybe as I’m flying out, maybe as I’m leaving the room, I I’ll be calling the European leaders who I get along with very well. And you know, I have a great relationship, I think, with all of them, and I get along with Zelensky, but, you know, I disagree with what he’s done, very, very severely disagree. This is a war that should have never happened … but I’ll be speaking to Zelensky. The next meeting will be with Zelensky and Putin, or Zelensky, and Putin to me I’ll be there if they need me.”
He expressed some frustration with Zelenskyy again, saying:
“I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelensky was saying, Well, I have to get constitutional approval. I mean, he’s got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap? Because there’ll be some land swapping going on. I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody to the good for the good of Ukraine, good stuff, not bad stuff, also some bad stuff for both. So it’s good and there’s bad, but it’s very complex, because you have lines that are very uneven. And there’ll be some swapping, there’ll be some changes in land.”
He makes it clear he can negotiate the deal, but it will be up to Ukraine to accept or reject it.
“I’m going to meet with him [Putin]. We’re going to see what the parameters are, and then I’m going to call up President Zelensky and the European leaders … and I’m going to tell them what kind of a deal. I’m not going to make a deal. It’s not up to me to make a deal. I think a deal should be made for both.”
Ultimately, he says “I’d like to see a cease fire.”
Zelensky could still attend Trump-Putin meeting, but rest of Europe is shut out
Zelensky could still attend Trump-Putin meeting, but rest of Europe is shut out. Territorial concessions are likely to be discussed, and Europe doesn’t want its borders to be redrawn through force. But, as things stand, there are no invites for the country being invaded, nor the continent it sits in. “Brace ourselves for some pretty outrageous Russian demands,” warns Lord Simon McDonald, a former head of the UK Foreign Office. “Putin is going to ask for things that nobody else would concede – with the possible exception of Donald Trump.”
12 hours ago Share Save James Waterhouse Ukraine correspondent Reporting from Brussels Share Save
Watch: Kaja Kallas says any talks between US and Russia must include Ukraine
It’s the bilateral summit every European leader wants to be at. And for good reason. On Friday, Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Territorial concessions are likely to be discussed, and Europe (not least Ukraine) doesn’t want its borders to be redrawn through force. But, as things stand, there are no invites for the country being invaded, nor the continent it sits in. “Brace ourselves for some pretty outrageous Russian demands,” warns Lord Simon McDonald, a former head of the UK Foreign Office. “It will be theatrical,” he adds. “Putin is going to ask for things that nobody else would concede – with the possible exception of Donald Trump.”
President Zelensky has said he won’t agree to the giving up of any land, or even freezing the conflict along the current front lines. His argument is that it won’t slow a Russian war machine that has waged a full-scale war for more than three and a half years. Concessions, he claims, would only speed it up. “It’s clear Putin wants a photo with the most influential people on Earth, which is President Trump, and he wants sanctions to be postponed, which he’ll probably get,” the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, tells me. “The question is, what is success for the US in the meeting?” she asks. “If President Zelensky is there, it would be a clear success.” But if Ukraine’s leader isn’t at the Alaskan table, how might the Kremlin’s proposals be challenged? “He could go,” said the US president on that possibility. But Kyiv and Europe want it to go from a “maybe” to a “yes”. Adding to their anxiety is the one-on-one format being a Kremlin idea the White House agreed to.
Anadolu via Getty Images Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian territory have not eased – firefighters work to extinguish fires following Russian shelling of residential buildings in Kostiantynivka on Saturday
A European scramble
Europe to Trump: Stand up for Ukraine when you talk to Putin
EU leaders call for an unconditional ceasefire and security guarantees. They pledge to continue to support Kyiv financially and press ahead with its bid to join the EU. President Donald Trump has said he hopes some land will go the other way in a peace deal. The U.S. has not publicly entertained the prospect of conceding land to Russia as part of a peace agreement with Ukraine.
Kallas further promised to work on a new package of sanctions while pledging to continue to support Kyiv financially and press ahead with its bid to join the EU.
Such demands show Europe is growing more comfortable in putting its positions forward on the resolution of Russia’s war against Ukraine, with views that have recently been more pro-Kyiv than Washington’s under Trump.
Chief EU diplomat Kaja Kallas, after an emergency meeting of European foreign ministers on Monday, said that no concessions should be discussed before Russia agrees to a full ceasefire. | Mohd Rasfan/EPA
Earlier this week, the leaders of Germany, France, Poland, Finland and the U.K., as well as the head of the European Commission, warned that any peace deal needed to respect Ukraine’s “territorial integrity” — code for not forcing Kyiv to give up land — as well as security guarantees.
Though Kyiv has not publicly entertained the prospect of conceding land to Russia, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said a final peace deal would most likely include “land swaps” — a point echoed by Trump’s chief negotiator Steve Witkoff and, later on Monday, Trump himself.
Nonetheless, Trump, while indicating he envisages Ukraine ceding some territory to Russia, said he hopes some land will go the other way. “Russia has occupied a big portion of Ukraine,” he said. “They’ve occupied some very prime territory. We’re going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine.”