- In a virtual meeting Wednesday, Donald Trump and European leaders agreed on a strategy for Trump's meeting with Putin on Friday.
- The leaders emphasized the importance of establishing a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine as the first step before discussing serious negotiations.
- Multiple leaders reiterated that Ukraine must be involved in discussions about territory.
Ahead of Donald Trump’s in-person meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, the U.S. president participated in a virtual summit with European leaders including, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during they found “common ground” and vowed to “put pressure on the Russia leader.”
“I would rate it a 10, you know, very, very friendly,” Trump said about the meeting on Wednesday," per The Washington Post.
The meeting was arranged by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and also included leaders from France, Britain, Italy, Poland, the European Union and NATO, per NBC News. After the call, Zelenskyy and Merz spoke to reporters in Berlin and said the leaders had agreed on a strategy for Friday’s meeting.
According to The New York Times, the meeting between Putin and Trump will take place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.
When speaking about the virtual summit with European leaders, Merz said the group was “very much in agreement” on the issues ahead of Friday’s Alaska meeting.
After Wednesday’s meeting, Zelenskyy posted on X, thanking Trump and others involved in the virtual summit.
“We value President Trump’s leadership and determination to end this war as soon as possible, and we discussed key things that can make this happen and ensure lasting peace. I thank everyone for their engagement and shared vision,” he wrote.
Zelenskyy, European leaders insist a ceasefire must come first
One constant that has been repeated by Zelenskyy and other European leaders is that a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine must come first before serious negotiations can be held.
“We made it clear that Ukraine must be at the table at the next meeting. We want things to go in the right sequence: We want a ceasefire at the very beginning, and then a framework agreement must be drawn up. If Ukraine is prepared to talk about territorial negotiations, then we need to make sure that there are no violent changes to the border,” Merz said during the press conference in Berlin, per CNN.
The German chancellor added that European leaders are looking for robust security guarantees for Ukraine.
“In Alaska, we need to make sure that we maintain EU and Ukrainian security interests, in Anchorage, and that is the message that we wanted to convey to President Trump,” Merz added, per CNN.
Trump expressed support for a ceasefire, security guarantees for Ukraine
During his comments after the meeting, Zelenskyy said that Trump “expressed his support” for obtaining a ceasefire first and then making security guarantees for Ukraine, per CNN.
According to The New York Times, Zelenskyy shared that Trump also agreed that Russia should not be allowed to veto a potential NATO membership for Ukraine.
Other leaders have also expressed a need for robust security guarantees for Ukraine, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“The Prime Minister was clear that our support for Ukraine is unwavering — international borders must not be changed by force and Ukraine must have robust and credible security guarantees to defend its territorial integrity as part of any deal,” a Downing Street spokesperson said, according to CNN.
Leaders reiterate that Ukraine must be involved in discussions about territory
After Wednesday’s meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to reporters in the south of France, saying any territorial exchange in Ukraine “must only be discussed with Ukraine,” according to CNN.
The French president said the meeting between Trump and Putin is a “good thing,” but it is important that Europe is “heard” in issues that affect the continent, such as the war in Ukraine.
Macron added, “As of today, there are no serious territorial exchange plans on the table,” according to The New York Times.
Zelenskyy also spoke about the potential of conceding land in the Donbas to Russia and he confirmed that his position remains unchanged.
“Any issue which deals with the territorial integrity of Ukraine cannot be discussed just like that, without looking at our constitution and the will of our people,” Zelenskyy said, according to CNN. “As to our principles, as to our territorial integrity, in the end, will be decided on the level of leaders. Without Ukraine at the table, it’s impossible to achieve.”
Trump says Putin will face severe consequences if he doesn’t agree to end the war
While speaking at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, Trump said that Russia will face consequences if Putin does not agree to stop the war during Friday’s meeting. He did not specify what those consequences would be, but called them “very severe,” per The New York Times.
The president also said he will not be able to stop Putin from targeting Ukrainian civilians, because he has had that conversation with the Russian president before and the killings of civilians continued.
Since Trump returned to office, many of the sanctions the Biden administration levied against Russia have weakened.
“I want to end the war,” Trump said, according to The New York Times.
Zelenskyy told leaders that Putin is ‘bluffing’
According to NBC News, during the virtual meeting on Wednesday, Zelenskyy told Trump and European leaders that Putin is “bluffing.”
Speaking to reporters in Berlin, Zelenskyy said the parties have to combine negotiations with putting pressure on Russia.
“Sanctions should be strengthened if Russia will not go for ceasefire in Alaska,” Zelenskyy said, according to NBC News.
The Ukrainian president added that he wants a ceasefire with Russia and eventually a trilateral meeting between himself, Trump and Putin.
“Of course, we discussed the battlefield today, told President Trump and all our European allies, Putin is bluffing. Russia wants to occupy the whole Ukraine. This is his wish,” Zelenskyy said, per NBC News.
NATO chief says ‘the ball is now in Putin’s court’
After the virtual summit on Wednesday, NATO chief Mark Rutte said “the ball is now in Putin’s court,” according to CNN.
He posted on social media, “We are united in pushing to end ... this terrible war against (Ukraine) and achieve just and lasting peace. Appreciate (Trump’s) leadership and close coordination with Allies.”
European Union President Ursula von der Leyen also posted on social media after the meeting, saying it was “very good.” She said those involved in the call have found common ground.
“We exchanged on the upcoming bilateral meeting in Alaska. Today Europe, the US and NATO have strengthened the common ground for Ukraine,” Von der Leyen wrote on X. “We will remain in close coordination. Nobody wants peace more than us, a just and lasting peace.”