Europe Scrambles to Ensure Ukraine’s Involvement as Trump and Putin Prepare for Alaska Summit
A diplomatic flurry ensued over the weekend following President Trump’s announcement of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled for next week in Alaska. European leaders have been scrambling to comprehend the terms of the meeting and safeguard Ukraine’s inclusion in discussions regarding its future.
On Saturday, European officials held an urgent meeting with Vice President JD Vance, stressing the necessity of involving Ukraine in any peace talks and ensuring a ceasefire precedes such negotiations.
Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not initially named as a participant at the Alaska summit, scheduled for Friday between Trump and Putin, there are unconfirmed reports that he may participate in certain meetings, according to two White House sources. However, any discussions involving Zelensky would likely take place after the Trump-Putin meeting.
The rapidly developing summit details are still tentative, with the location yet to be disclosed. A White House official stated that Trump remains open to a trilateral summit but is currently planning a bilateral meeting requested by Putin.
Since Trump announced the impending meeting on social media on Friday, there has been an intense diplomatic effort behind the scenes to secure allies’ support. Trump’s announcement did not specify whether or when Zelensky would be incorporated into the process. Meanwhile, both Zelensky and European leaders have underscored Ukraine’s necessity in discussions aimed at ending the war.
On Saturday, during a meeting hosted by Vance at the residence of the British foreign secretary, European officials outlined their conditions and sought more information from US officials about Putin’s peace plan presented to US envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday. They emphasized several key points, according to Western officials: Ukraine must be part of the talks, a ceasefire should precede further steps, and if Ukraine makes territorial concessions, Russia must also relinquish occupied lands.
A joint statement from leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Finland welcomed “President Trump’s efforts to halt the violence in Ukraine, end the Russian Federation’s aggression, and achieve a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine.” Zelensky subsequently expressed appreciation for the joint statement.
However, the statement outlined terms of a peace plan that appeared to contradict Putin’s proposal, which seeks substantial territorial concessions from Ukraine, according to Western officials. The statement emphasized that Ukraine has the right to determine its own future and negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities. It also called for robust and credible security guarantees to enable Ukraine to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The European leaders’ terms aimed to coordinate a response to the rapidly evolving diplomacy, set in motion this week by Witkoff’s meeting in Moscow. Pressed for details on the potential deal contours, Trump indicated that it could involve “some swapping of territories.” However, the exact specifics remain unclear even after several follow-up conversations between the Europeans and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Witkoff.
The fate of two other regions that Russia has targeted—Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, only partially occupied by Russia—remains uncertain, along with the status of future US security guarantees, according to officials. This has prompted European leaders to seek clarification on what a ceasefire would entail, in an attempt to allay concerns about potential Ukrainian territorial concessions.
Following Saturday’s meeting, Zelensky expressed confidence that the US was listening to Ukraine’s arguments and taking its concerns into account.