European Leaders Express Support for Trilateral Summit with Ukraine and the US
European leaders have expressed openness to engaging in a trilateral summit involving U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European representatives, as stated in a joint declaration issued by the European Commission. The statement was released shortly after the conclusion of a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The statement emphasized that “it will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory,” and highlighted the importance of maintaining international borders without changes enforced through force. This message came amid growing concerns over the potential impact of Trump’s recent diplomatic efforts with Russia.
The declaration was signed by several key European figures, including Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; Emmanuel Macron, President of France; Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy; Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany; Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Alexander Stubb, President of Finland; Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland; and António Costa, President of the European Council.
Coalition of the Willing Prepares for Key Discussions
Ahead of Zelenskyy’s upcoming visit to Washington, the so-called “Coalition of the Willing” — a group of 31 countries established to support a potential peace deal — will hold a video conference with the Ukrainian president. This group was formed to ensure that any agreement to end the conflict in Ukraine remains viable, especially following Trump’s surprise initiative to engage directly with Putin.
Macron, Merz, and Starmer are expected to participate in this meeting. They expressed appreciation for Trump’s efforts to halt the violence in Ukraine, bring an end to Russia’s aggression, and achieve a lasting and just peace. However, they also stressed the need for “ironclad security guarantees” for Ukraine, with no restrictions on its military capabilities. The leaders reiterated their commitment to ensuring that Russia does not have a say in Ukraine’s path toward joining the European Union or NATO.
The statement also reaffirmed the intention to maintain sanctions against Russia as long as the conflict continues in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy Calls for Real Peace
Zelenskyy echoed the European stance in a post on X, calling for “real peace” rather than temporary pauses between Russian offensives. He reportedly told Trump that sanctions should be strengthened if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia attempts to avoid a genuine resolution to the war.
He also emphasized the importance of involving European leaders, who were not present at the Alaska summit. Other European leaders responded more critically to the outcome of the meeting. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espend Barth Eide described Putin’s talking points as “code for the Russian justification for the illegal invasion of Ukraine.” Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated that Putin remains focused on territorial gains and the restoration of the Soviet empire. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted that Russia has no immediate intention of ending the war, citing new attacks on Ukraine even as negotiations took place.
Zelenskyy Arrives in Brussels for Key Meetings
Zelenskyy is set to arrive in Brussels on Sunday, where he will meet with Ursula von der Leyen. The two will join a video conference with Macron, Merz, and Starmer. Von der Leyen confirmed her participation in Zelenskyy’s White House meeting with Trump on Monday, as requested by the Ukrainian leader. This series of meetings underscores the ongoing collaboration between European nations, the U.S., and Ukraine in addressing the crisis and seeking a peaceful resolution.
