European leaders have rallied behind Ukraine, emphasizing that peace negotiations to end the ongoing war with Russia must include Kyiv, as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska.
The joint statement from leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission underscores the necessity of protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected any deal that would involve ceding land to Russia, warning that decisions made without Ukraine’s involvement would be “stillborn” and unworkable.
The European leaders’ statement, issued on Saturday, stressed that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.”
They advocated for “robust and credible security guarantees” to safeguard Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, as reported by Reuters.
The leaders also emphasized that international borders must not be altered by force, proposing the current line of contact as the starting point for negotiations, which should occur only in the context of a ceasefire or reduced hostilities.
Trump’s suggestion of a potential “swapping of territories” to resolve the conflict has raised alarms in Kyiv and among European allies, who fear it could pressure Ukraine to surrender significant portions of its land.
Russia currently occupies about a fifth of Ukraine, including parts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, and has claimed these regions, though it controls only about 70% of the latter three.
A European official revealed that a counter-proposal to Trump’s plan has been presented, though details remain undisclosed, signaling Europe’s intent to counter any deal that disadvantages Ukraine.
The upcoming Trump-Putin summit has sparked concerns that Ukraine and Europe could be sidelined.
While a senior U.S. official indicated that inviting Zelensky to Alaska is under consideration, preparations currently focus on a bilateral meeting as requested by Putin, who has so far ruled out meeting Zelensky.
Russian officials, including former President Dmitry Medvedev, have accused Europe of obstructing peace efforts, while pro-Kremlin voices suggest that a Trump-Putin agreement could leave Europe and Kyiv facing a fait accompli.
The situation remains fluid, with fears that a deal prioritizing U.S.-Russia interests could undermine Ukraine’s position and European security.