The coalition of countries supporting Ukraine will hold a video call today with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of his critical meeting on Monday with US President Donald Trump in Washington., reports 24brussels.
The call, coordinated by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is scheduled for today at 15:00 CET, according to the Élysée. This meeting serves as a precursor to Zelenskyy’s significant talks with Trump.
In a recent meeting in Alaska, Russian President Vladimir Putin made it clear that he wishes to exclude Europeans from the negotiations, warning them against “making attempts to disrupt this emerging progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes intrigues.” Despite this, Trump has indicated that European nations need to engage, stating they “have to get involved a little bit,” even as the primary responsibility rests on Zelenskyy. Reports suggest Trump has invited prominent European leaders to join Monday’s discussions.
Hot topic I: Peace Deal without a ceasefire?
On Saturday, Trump shifted his stance from demanding an immediate ceasefire to advocating for a comprehensive peace accord – a significant pivot announced shortly after the Alaska summit.
Before the Alaska meeting, an immediate cessation of hostilities had been a central demand from Trump and European leaders, including Zelenskyy. This new direction appears to favor Putin, who has consistently advocated for negotiations on a final peace deal—an approach criticized by Ukraine and its European allies as a tactic to gain time while continuing military advances.
Zelenskyy characterized his discussion with Trump about the Alaska summit as “substantive,” expressing hope for discussions in Washington that would focus on achieving a “real peace” that is enduring, rather than merely a temporary pause between Russian offensives. However, he acknowledged that Russia’s rejection of a ceasefire complicates the efforts to end a conflict that has persisted for over three years.
“We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation,” Zelenskyy remarked. “If they lack the will to carry out a simple order to stop the strikes, it may take a lot of effort to get Russia to have the will to implement far greater – peaceful coexistence with its neighbors for decades,” he added.
Hot topic II: Territory
According to The New York Times, Trump is expected to address the issue of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory on Monday. This topic was notably absent during the press conference between Trump and Putin.
As reported by Financial Times and AFP, Putin has demanded that Ukraine withdraw from the partially occupied eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk as a prerequisite for ending the conflict. However, he has also suggested that he could agree to a freeze on the current front lines if his fundamental conditions are satisfied.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that Trump did not make any concessions to Putin regarding Ukrainian territory. Presently, Russia occupies 20% of Ukraine’s territory, excluding Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
With fears of an escalation in Russian attacks, Zelenskyy firmly refuses to concede any territory. An EU leaders’ statement emphasized that the determination of territorial matters is up to Ukraine, but underscored that “international borders must not be changed by force.”
Hot topic III: Security guarantees
Additionally, Trump has introduced the notion of security guarantees inspired by NATO’s Article 5. This proposal would enable Ukraine to receive protection under a collective security clause in the event of an attack, while avoiding full NATO membership, thus addressing Moscow’s concerns.
France, the UK, and Germany have pledged to send peacekeeping forces to ensure stability in Ukraine, although not directly to the front lines. Klaus Welle, former Secretary General of the European Parliament, suggested that a peacekeeping framework for Ukraine could resemble that of West Germany during the Cold War.
“The pressure from the Soviet Union coming from East Germany was very strong. And we were able to resist for 40 years because we had foreign troops,” he stated, referencing the presence of American, British, and French forces in West Germany. He advocated for similar arrangements in Ukraine, noting that American logistical and air support would also be critical.
(bms, sm)
