U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders have agreed that Ukraine must have a central role in any negotiations involving territorial concessions to end the ongoing conflict with Russia, according to French President Emmanuel Macron.
This consensus emerged from a virtual meeting on Wednesday, which included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders, aimed at shaping discussions ahead of Trump’s upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
The agreement signals a unified stance to ensure Ukraine’s voice is paramount in resolving the three-and-a-half-year war, which has claimed countless lives and displaced millions.
The discussions underscored Trump’s position that territorial issues must be negotiated solely by Ukraine’s leadership, a point Macron emphasized after the hour-long call.
Macron noted that Trump’s views align with European leaders’ insistence that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remain non-negotiable without Kyiv’s consent.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz echoed this sentiment, stating that Trump prioritized securing a ceasefire during his upcoming talks with Putin, but legal recognition of Russia’s territorial claims is off the table.
Zelenskyy, who traveled to Berlin for the virtual meetings, rejected any territorial concessions without Ukraine’s approval, citing the nation’s constitution and the will of its people.
While Trump has suggested that a peace settlement may involve “land swapping” between Ukraine and Russia, no detailed proposals were discussed during the call, according to Macron.
European leaders expressed apprehension that such swaps could leave Russia in control of nearly a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, potentially emboldening further aggression.
Both Macron and European Council President António Costa highlighted additional areas of agreement, including the pursuit of a ceasefire and future U.S. involvement in security guarantees for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy advocated for a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin to ensure Ukraine’s interests are directly represented.