European foreign ministers are urgently convening to address the escalating concerns surrounding the upcoming meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this Friday.
As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its fourth year, there is a growing apprehension in Europe that Ukraine may be sidelined during negotiations, potentially leading to unacceptable territorial compromises.
In a demonstration of solidarity and to foster consensus, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has invited President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the NATO Secretary General, and various European leaders to a virtual meeting.
President Trump described his upcoming meeting with Putin as a “feel-out meeting” aimed at concluding the ongoing conflict.
In his statements to reporters, Trump emphasized his intent to compel Putin to bring an end to the war: “So I’m going in to speak to Vladimir Putin, and I’m going to be telling him, ‘You’ve got to end this war. You’ve got to end it.’”
He acknowledged that any resolution to the conflict would likely involve concessions from both Kyiv and Moscow, asserting, “There’ll be some land swapping going on.”
Following this exchange, it was revealed that a future meeting could potentially include President Zelenskyy.
However, Zelenskyy sounded a note of caution, providing an update in his evening address on Monday, indicating that there were no indicators that Russia was preparing to cease hostilities.
“On the contrary, they are moving their troops and forces in such a way as to launch new offensive operations,” he stated, referencing intel from Ukrainian sources.
In light of these developments, the European Union’s top diplomats held a video conference on Monday with Ukraine’s representative Andrii Sybiha.
Their joint statement affirmed a consensus among leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Britain, and Finland, along with EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen: “The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.”
President Zelenskyy further remarked that yielding concessions to Russia would not deter its aggressive actions, underscoring, “Concessions do not persuade a killer.”
He steadfastly maintained that he would never consent to any Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory and that Ukraine’s aspirations for NATO membership remain uncompromised.
European leaders have reiterated their commitment to the principle that international borders should not be altered by force.
The EU has emphasized that any peace agreement must involve both Kyiv and European powers to maintain regional security.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, asserted that “the US has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously,” but underscored the necessity of including Ukraine and the EU in any agreements as it pertains to security on the continent.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk shared sentiments on Monday, noting that the US had committed to consulting with Europe prior to the summit.
“I will wait… for the effects of the meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin – I have many fears and a lot of hope,” he expressed.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer conveyed support for President Trump’s initiative to end the conflict in Ukraine, while emphasizing that any terms must not be imposed upon the country.
“Any peace must be built with Ukraine, not imposed upon it, and we will not reward aggression or compromise sovereignty. Ukraine will decide its own future, and we will support it every step of the way,” he affirmed.
The scheduled meeting in Alaska marks the first direct engagement between a sitting US and Russian president since 2021.
There are indications that President Trump is open to the idea of inviting President Zelenskyy to Alaska, though no confirmation has yet been provided.
Conversely, President Putin has maintained that conditions must be favorable for a meeting with the Ukrainian leader to take place.
Amid the diplomatic flurry, aerial assaults have intensified, with Ukraine asserting that it has targeted a facility in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region known for producing missile components.
Local sources confirmed that one individual was killed and two others were injured during the attack, which struck the Arzamas manufacturing plant.
Russian authorities have reported the destruction of a total of 59 Ukrainian drones overnight, with incidents occurring over regions including Tula and the annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Furthermore, Russia has claimed control over the village of Lunacharske in the Donetsk region, a territory renaming itself Fedorivka in 2016.
Russia executed a series of lethal strikes across various locations in Ukraine over the weekend, particularly in the heavily contested areas of Kherson and Zaporizhia, signaling a concerning escalation in the violence.
image source from：aljazeera
