Europe\’s top leaders to convene Ukraine online summit ahead of Trump‑Putin showdown
European Leaders Hold Online Sessions with Trump on Ukraine War
Meeting Agenda and Key Participants
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has organized a virtual conference that brings together Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French, British, and other European leaders, as well as the heads of the European Union and NATO. The first round of the call is scheduled for Wednesday, where the panel is expected to discuss Ukraine’s interests with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance before the Tuesday meeting.
Planned Trump‑Putin Summit without Zelensky
The upcoming Trump‑Putin summit on Friday is set to proceed in Alaska without the presence of President Zelensky. This exclusion has sparked concerns that Kyiv could be compelled to make difficult concessions, including changes to territorial boundaries.
EU Leaders Emphasize Ukraine’s Sovereignty
- Right to choose destiny: EU officials have stressed that Ukraine has the inherent right to determine its own future.
- International borders must stay intact: They have added that borders should not be altered by force.
Zelensky Rules Out Troop Withdrawal
During a press briefing on Tuesday, President Zelensky explicitly ruled out withdrawing Ukrainian troops from the Donbas region, a territory that Moscow claims.
U.S. President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet amid NATO summit
Photos released by AFP file display Donald Trump at Joint Base Andrews, Friedrich Merz in the Berlin Chancellery, and Volodymyr Zelensky during the NATO Heads of State and Government summit in The Hague. The images underline the high‑level cooperation taking place in July 2025.
Conference call agenda
- Exploration of additional pressure on Russia and assessment of potential diplomatic pathways.
- Planning of possible peace negotiations, addressing territorial claims and security issues that remain contentious.
Leaders addressing wider European and global concerns
Participants will include Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, the heads of the European Commission and Council, the Secretary General of NATO, and the United States president with his deputy. German officials highlighted the conference’s comprehensive scope.
Coalition of the Willing talks
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Emmanuel Macron, and Chancellor Merz will soon hold discussions among the coalition of Ukraine’s military supporters, aiming to fortify strategic backing.
Trump’s stance on future negotiations
During a White House briefing, Trump acknowledged that a breakthrough in Alaska was unlikely but expressed confidence that constructive conversations with Vladimir Putin would eventually lead to changes in land distribution.
Russia’s conditions for a peace settlement
Russia insists that Kyiv withdraw its forces from several disputed regions, adopt a stance of neutrality, refrain from U.S. and EU military support, and avoid NATO membership. Ukraine maintains that it will never accept Russian control over its sovereign territory, though it recognizes that any land reclaimed by Russia would require diplomatic resolution, not battlefield confrontation.
Zelensky’s observations on the eastern front
Zelensky shared on social media that the Russian army is actively preparing for further offensive operations, indicating that the war is far from ending. Ukrainian forces are engaged in challenging battles on the front line after recent rapid advances by Moscow in the east.
