Europe live: EU says Ukraine should be able to ‘choose its own destiny' ahead of Trump-Putin meeting
Date: 2025-08-12T07:52:42.000Z
Title: Morning opening: Ukraine must be able to 'choose its destiny,' EU says
Content: In an early morning statement issued after last night ministerial discussions, the EU insisted 'the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine,' as it stressed 'the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny.'
'Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has wider implications for European and international security.
We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests.'
But despite the intentions, the statement didn't demonstrate the EU's unity on this point: Viktor Orbán's Hungary, once again, refused to back the collective position.
And just hours after the EU meeting, Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó was on the phone to Moscow speaking to Russian deputy prime minister Denis Manturov.
But as we get closer to the summit – which Donald Trump described last night as a 'feel-out meeting' – many European leaders are likely to be alarmed by the US president's rhethoric and talk of 'swapping' territories without Ukraine even present at the table.
They will be hoping that the last-ditch attempt to convince Trump of the merits of their position during a scheduled phone call on Wednesday will result in the US president changing his views going into the talks. Let's see.
Elsewhere, we will be keeping an eye on another day of record-breaking heat in parts of Europe. Overnight, Spanish firefighters have finally contained a wildfire near Madrid, which killed one and prompted the evacuation of almost 200 people.
I will bring you all the key updates here.
It's Tuesday, 12 August 2025, it's Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
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