European nations rallied behind Ukraine, saying peace in the war-torn nation cannot be resolved without Kyiv, ahead of a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump had said Friday’s meeting in Alaska with his Russian counterpart was to discuss ending the more than three-year war.
Zelenskiy responded by thanking European allies and wrote on X yesterday: “The end of the war must be fair, and I am grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine and our people.”
Photo: AP
Saturday’s statement by top European leaders came after the White House confirmed the US president was willing to grant Putin the one-on-one meeting Russia has long pushed for, and suggestions from Trump that a peace deal could include “some swapping of territories.”
That raised fears that Kyiv might be pressured into giving up land or accepting other curbs on its sovereignty.
A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they are not allowed to speak publicly, said that Trump remained open to a trilateral summit with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, but for now, he would have a bilateral meeting requested by Putin.
Meanwhile, US Vice President J.D. Vance on Saturday met with top European and Ukrainian officials at the British foreign secretary’s weekend residence to discuss how to end the war.
Trump had earlier said he would meet with Putin even if the Russian leader would not meet with Zelenskiy.
The Trump-Putin meeting might prove pivotal in a war that began when Russia invaded its western neighbor and has led to tens of thousands of deaths, although there is no guarantee it would stop the fighting since Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace.
Saturday’s statement, signed by the president of the European Union and leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland and the UK, stressed the need for a “just and lasting peace” for Kyiv, including “robust and credible” security guarantees.
“Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities,” the statement said.
“The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force,” it said.
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