European leaders pledge support for trilateral meeting
The letter was signed by the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, UK, Finland and Poland as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa.
The leaders said Mr Trump debriefed them and Mr Zelensky following his meeting with Mr Putin in Alaska.
They said welcomed they welcomed Mr Trump's "efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine, end Russia's war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace".
"We are also ready to work with President Trump and President Zelensky towards a trilateral summit with European support," the leaders said,
The statement added that Ukraine must have "ironclad" security guarantees to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and welcomed that Mr Trump is prepared to give these guarantees.
It said no limitations should be placed on Ukraine's armed forces or on its cooperation with other countries, adding that Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine's membership of the EU and NATO.
Thank you @POTUS for the update on discussions in Alaska.
The EU is working closely with @ZelenskyyUA and the United States to reach a just and lasting peace.
Strong security guarantees that protect Ukrainian and European vital security interests are essential.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 16, 2025
"It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory. International borders must not be changed by force.
"Our support to Ukraine will continue. We are determined to do more to keep Ukraine strong in order to achieve an end to the fighting and a just and lasting peace."
The leaders said that sanctions would continue to be strengthened against Russia if the war continues.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also agreed, in a post on X, that strong security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe were "essential" in any peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.
"The EU is working closely with Zelensky and the United States to reach a just and lasting peace. Strong security guarantees that protect Ukrainian and European vital security interests are essential," Ms von der Leyen said.
In a separate statement, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he welcomed the openness of the US to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal to stop the war after speaking to President Trump and other European partners on Saturday.
"This is important progress and will be crucial in deterring Putin from coming back for more," he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, said it is essential to continue supporting Ukraine and putting pressure on Russia.
He said that France will work with the US and partners in the "Coalition of the Willing" to make progress on a lasting peace with security guarantees.
That coalition will meet in the near future, Mr Macron said.
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