Ukraine Peace Talks: Europe Insists Kyiv's Inclusion Amid Trump-Putin Meeting

Europe Demands Ukraine's Inclusion in Peace Talks Amid Trump-Putin Meeting

European allies have rallied behind Ukraine, insisting that any peace talks with Russia must include Kyiv. This comes as Donald Trump prepares to meet with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Key Statements and Concerns

A joint statement from the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission emphasized that peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. President Zelensky expressed concerns that agreements without Kyiv would be "dead decisions."

Late on Saturday, a White House official said that Trump would be willing to hold a trilateral meeting with both Putin and Zelensky. Whether Putin would agree to this is unclear - the Russian and Ukrainian leaders have not met face-to-face since Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago.

Territorial Swaps and European Involvement

Trump suggested potential territorial swaps, which Zelensky strongly opposes. "We will not reward Russia for what it has perpetrated," he said. European powers presented their own peace plan, demanding reciprocal territory exchanges. Macron has raised concerns about the lack of European involvement in potential agreements between the US and Russia.

US Diplomacy

US diplomacy involved Vice-President JD Vance meeting with UK officials and Zelensky's aides to emphasize the need for Ukraine's inclusion in peace talks. Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelensky's office, stressed, "A reliable, lasting peace is only possible with Ukraine at the negotiating table."