Zelenskyy Urges European Leaders to Advocate for Ukraine Ahead of Trump-Putin Summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with European leaders in Berlin on Wednesday, engaging in three rounds of virtual discussions organized by Germany’s Friedrich Merz. The discussions aimed to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to prioritize the interests of Ukraine and Europe before his highly anticipated summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska, reports 24brussels.
Concerns among European leaders grew following Trump’s remarks on Monday, suggesting that a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine might necessitate “land swapping,” allowing Russia to retain captured areas as well as additional unoccupied territories. This position raised alarms about the security and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy firmly rejected the land-swapping proposal, advocating instead for robust U.S. sanctions against Russia. Ukraine’s European allies are determined to ensure that Kyiv’s stance is acknowledged in the upcoming negotiations. The need for a cohesive and strategic European response to the situation has become increasingly evident.
During the Berlin discussions, Merz and fellow European leaders emphasized three core principles to be conveyed to Trump: first, that Ukraine must be involved in any negotiation process; second, that a ceasefire is imperative prior to any formal discussions; and third, that Ukraine requires security guarantees before proceeding further. Officials indicated that, in their view, a lasting peace agreement remains distant.
Merz and Zelenskyy were scheduled to engage in a final round of talks with a coalition of over 30 nations, predominantly from the European Union, committed to supporting a potential peace deal later on Wednesday.
Chris Lunday contributed to this report from Berlin.
