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European leaders to join emergency call with Trump and Zelenskyy ahead of Putin talks, urge ceasefire first
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) and US President Donald Trump are pictured here against the backdrop of the Nato flag. File Photo- Agencies
US President Donald Trump will participate in an emergency virtual summit on Wednesday alongside European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a Politico report.
The meeting, convened by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, comes ahead of Friday's high-stakes summit in Alaska between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The virtual summit will address potential measures to increase pressure on Russia, the status of Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russian forces, security guarantees for Kyiv, and the possible sequencing of future peace negotiations, according to the report, citing German government spokesperson.
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Merz, along with other European leaders, is insisting that Russian President Vladimir Putin agree to a ceasefire before any peace talks or territorial negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv can begin. They have also emphasised that any potential land swaps must be mutually agreed with Ukraine and that Kyiv must receive credible security guarantees to prevent future aggression.
According to three diplomats cited by Politico, Merz's team has been engaged in intensive consultations with other European capitals in recent days to coordinate the virtual summit.
Merz also held a phone call with President Trump on Sunday night, during which he urged the US to ramp up pressure on Moscow.
He has called on Trump to implement severe sanctions on Russia's banking sector and to introduce secondary sanctions targeting Russia's trade partners, added the report.
Merz said in a televised interview on Sunday night that 'we cannot accept that territorial issues between Russia and America are discussed or even decided over the heads of the Europeans, over the heads of the Ukrainians,' adding, 'Putin only acts under pressure.'
According to a schedule reviewed by Politico, the emergency virtual summit will begin at 2 pm German time on Wednesday, starting with a one-hour session that includes 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 Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
This will be followed at 3 pm by a one-hour discussion between the European leaders, Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance.
The day will conclude with a joint session at 4:30 pm, bringing together the so-called 'coalition of the willing'— Ukraine's core group of military supporters — for a strategic dialogue hosted by Germany, the UK, and France.
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On Monday, Trump described his upcoming meeting with Putin as a 'feel-out meeting' focused on ending the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said, 'I'm going in to speak to Vladimir Putin, and I'm going to be telling him, you've got to end this war. You've got to end it.'
He added that a future round of talks could potentially involve Zelenskyy.
Meanwhile, top European Union diplomats held a video call on Monday with Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to coordinate positions ahead of the Trump-Putin summit.
In a joint statement issued by leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the UK, Finland, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the group stressed: 'The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.'
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy also pushed back firmly against any suggestion of territorial concessions to Moscow.
'Concessions do not persuade a killer,' he said on Monday, warning that yielding land or principles would not stop Russian aggression but embolden it.
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Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine will not accept any annexation of its territory by Russia and will not abandon its goal of joining Nato.
European leaders echoed his stance, reaffirming that international borders must not be changed by force.
With inputs from agencies
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