US President Donald Trump will participate in an important virtual summit with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this Wednesday. The summit, convened by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, aims to coordinate pressure on Russia amid the ongoing war with Ukraine. This meeting comes just days before Trump’s high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for Friday in Alaska.
Focus on Pressure, Peace Talks, and Security Guarantees
The virtual summit will cover several important issues where leaders will discuss steps to increase pressure on Russia. They will review the status of Ukrainian territories currently under Russian occupation. The summit will also focus on security guarantees for Kyiv and explore the possible sequence for future peace negotiations. According to a German government spokesperson, a ceasefire is a precondition demanded by European leaders before any formal peace talks or territorial negotiations can begin.
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Merk’s team has been consulting intensively with European capitals to ensure the summit’s success. On Sunday, Merz urged Trump during a phone call to increase pressure on Moscow through tougher sanctions, especially targeting Russia’s banking sector and trade partners.
Trump’s Take on the Summit and Upcoming Putin Meeting
President Trump confirmed his participation and shared his intentions with reporters. He said he will engage with European leaders and Zelenskyy to gather their ideas. Trump praised European leaders as “great people” but noted many are “tired” of the war and want to focus back on their own countries.
He also joked about his strong ties with Europe, saying many leaders rely on him. Trump stated he will enter the meeting with Putin “fully loaded” and is eager to see what comes out of it.
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Summit Schedule and Participants
The summit will start at 2 pm German time with a session including leaders from Germany, France, Finland, the UK, Italy, and Poland, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
At 3 pm, Trump, Vice President JD Vance, European leaders, and Zelenskyy will hold a one-hour discussion. The day will end with a joint session at 4:30 pm with Ukraine’s core military supporters—the “coalition of the willing”—for a strategic dialogue hosted by Germany, the UK, and France.
Calls for Respecting Ukraine’s Sovereignty
European leaders insist that peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine’s full participation. They demand that Russia’s territorial claims be settled only through mutual agreement with Kyiv. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy firmly rejected any idea of territorial concessions with a warning that such moves would only encourage further aggression. He reaffirmed Ukraine’s goal of joining NATO and its refusal to accept any annexation of its lands.
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European diplomats recently coordinated with Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to align positions ahead of the summit. The joint statement from EU leaders stressed the importance of respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and international borders.
