logo
Zelenskiy wins EU, NATO backing as he seeks place at table with Trump and Putin

Zelenskiy wins EU, NATO backing as he seeks place at table with Trump and Putin

Reuters3 days ago
Aug 10 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy won backing from Europe and NATO on Sunday as he rallied diplomatic support ahead of a Russia-U.S. summit this week where Kyiv fears Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump may try to dictate terms for ending the 3-1/2-year war.
Trump, who for weeks had been threatening new sanctions against Russia for failing to halt the conflict, announced instead last Friday that he would hold an August 15 summit with Putin in Alaska.
A White House official said on Saturday that Trump was open to Zelenskiy attending, but that preparations currently were for a bilateral meeting with Putin.
The Kremlin leader last week ruled out meeting Zelenskiy, saying the conditions for such an encounter were "unfortunately still far" from being met.
Trump said a potential deal would involve "some swapping of territories to the betterment of both (sides)", a statement that compounded Ukrainian alarm that it may face pressure to surrender more land.
Zelenskiy says any decisions taken without Ukraine will be "stillborn" and unworkable. On Saturday the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland and the European Commission said that any diplomatic solution must protect the security interests of Ukraine and Europe.
"The U.S. has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Sunday. "Any deal between the U.S. and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraine's and the whole of Europe's security." EU foreign ministers will meet on Monday to discuss next steps, she said.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told U.S. network ABC News that Friday's summit "will be about testing Putin, how serious he is on bringing this terrible war to an end".
He added: "It will be, of course, about security guarantees, but also about the absolute need to acknowledge that Ukraine decides on its own future, that Ukraine has to be a sovereign nation, deciding on its own geopolitical future."
Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, now holds nearly a fifth of the country.
Rutte said a future peace deal could not include legal recognition of Russian control over Ukrainian land, although it might include de facto recognition.
He compared it to the situation after World War Two when the United States accepted that the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia were de facto controlled by the Soviet Union but did not legally recognise their annexation.
Zelenskiy said on Sunday: "The end of the war must be fair, and I am grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine and our people today."
A European official said Europe had come up with a counter-proposal to Trump's, but declined to provide details. Russian officials accused Europe of trying to thwart Trump's efforts to end the war.
"The Euro-imbeciles are trying to prevent American efforts to help resolve the Ukrainian conflict," former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev posted on social media on Sunday.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a vituperative statement that the relationship between Ukraine and the European Union resembled "necrophilia".
Roman Alekhin, a Russian war blogger, said Europe had been reduced to the role of a spectator.
"If Putin and Trump reach an agreement directly, Europe will be faced with a fait accompli. Kyiv - even more so," he said.
No details of the proposed territorial swap that Trump alluded to have been officially announced.
In addition to Crimea, which it seized in 2014, Russia has formally claimed the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as its own, although it controls only about 70% of the last three. It holds smaller pieces of territory in three other regions, while Ukraine says it holds a sliver of Russia's Kursk region.
Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin analyst, said a swap could entail Russia handing over 1,500 sq km to Ukraine and obtaining 7,000 sq km, which he said Russia would capture anyway within about six months.
He provided no evidence to back any of those figures. Russia took only about 500 sq km of territory in July, according to Western military analysts who say its grinding advances have come at the cost of very high casualties.
Ukraine and its European allies have been haunted for months by the fear that Trump, keen to claim credit for making peace and hoping to seal lucrative joint business deals between the U.S. and Russia, could align with Putin to cut a deal that would be deeply disadvantageous to Kyiv.
They had drawn some encouragement lately as Trump, having piled heavy pressure on Zelenskiy and berated him publicly in the Oval Office in February, began criticising Putin as Russia pounded Kyiv and other cities with its heaviest air attacks of the war.
But the impending Putin-Trump summit, agreed during a trip to Moscow by Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff last week, has revived fears that Kyiv and Europe could be sidelined.
"What we will see emerge from Alaska will almost certainly be a catastrophe for Ukraine and Europe," wrote Phillips P. O'Brien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
"And Ukraine will face the most terrible dilemma. Do they accept this humiliating and destructive deal? Or do they go it alone, unsure of the backing of European states?"
Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko said on Sunday that Kyiv's partnership with its European allies was critical to countering any attempts to keep it away from the table.
"For us right now, a joint position with the Europeans is our main resource," he said on Ukrainian radio.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump can't stop using false and misleading data to make his case for DC takeover
Trump can't stop using false and misleading data to make his case for DC takeover

The Independent

time26 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Trump can't stop using false and misleading data to make his case for DC takeover

President Donald Trump has exaggerated and, at times, misstated statistics and facts about crime in Washington, D.C., to justify his decision to deploy the National Guard in the city. Despite violent crime rates falling in the nation's capital over the last two years, Trump asserted, on Monday, that the city 'has been taken over by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs, and homeless people.' For that reason, the president has directed approximately 800 National Guard members to D.C. to help local law enforcement take control of what the president claims is uncontrollable crime. A portion of those National Guard members began patrolling the city on Tuesday. But Trump's depiction of D.C. as lawless and filled with violent criminals is inaccurate. Violent crime rates in D.C. peaked in 2023 post-pandemic, according to data collected by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia. The number of homicides that year was 274, the highest since the late 1990s. 'Murders in 2023 reached the highest rate, probably ever,' Trump said on Monday. 'They say 25 years, but they don't know what that means because it just goes back 25 years, can't be worse.' The 2023 homicide rate was not the highest the city has ever experienced – data, which goes back to 1960, indicates homicides peaked in the nation's capital in 1991. The 2023 rate has declined by 63 percent since 1991. Overall, violent crime has gone down by 35 percent since 2023. Sex abuse rates have gone down 71 percent, and assaults with a dangerous weapon have dropped 62 percent. The White House released a fact sheet as part of Trump's announcement, citing D.C.'s homicide rate in 2024 as the fourth highest in the country, with 27.3 per 100,000 residents. However, the fact sheet appeared to incorrectly summarize information from a preliminary crime data report that exclusively used Washington Post reporting, which found D.C.'s 2023 murder rate to be the fifth highest among the largest cities. But that the homicide rate dropped in 2024 and was not ranked in the top four cities, according to the Post. Trump also compared D.C. homicide rates to those of 'the worst places on Earth,' claiming murders are higher in the U.S. city than Bogotá, Colombia, or Mexico City, Mexico. Data indicates that Washington, D.C. has a higher homicide rate than Mexico City, which recorded approximately 10 per 100,000 residents, or Bogotá, which recorded 15.2 per every 100,000 in 2024. But neither Mexico City nor Bogotá were ranked in the top 50 global cities with the highest homicide rates, according to the Igarapé Institute, a Brazilian think tank. Washington, D.C., was ranked 50 in 2023 – meaning there are at least 49 other cities with higher homicide rates.

Donald Trump issues Putin 'VERY severe consequences' warning if Ukraine war doesn't end
Donald Trump issues Putin 'VERY severe consequences' warning if Ukraine war doesn't end

Daily Mirror

time27 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Donald Trump issues Putin 'VERY severe consequences' warning if Ukraine war doesn't end

Donald Trump has issued a grave warning to Vladimir Putin after previously stating he would sting Russia with new sanctions if he failed to make a Ukraine deal Donald Trump has warned Vladimir Putin he faces severe consequences if he walks away from their Alaska summit without a stop to the war in Ukraine. ‌ Kyiv says the Russian despot is bluffing about his willingness to end the bloodshed. Keir Starmer said there is a viable chance of a ceasefire. Concerns in Kyiv and across Europe have risen ahead of the one-on-one summit in Alaska tomorrow between the US president and the Russian leader. ‌ Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky fears Mr Trump and Mr Putin may try to dictate the terms of peace in the three-year war. After being asked what would be the outcome if Mr Putin refuses to stop the killing, Mr Trump replied: 'Very severe consequences.' ‌ JD Vance talks about 'the bad guys' in Ukraine war - but doesn't say which side he means When pushed on what these consequences would be, he said: 'I don't have to say.' He added: 'If I do not get the necessary answers during the meeting with Putin, there will be no next meeting.' It was hours after Zelensky told Trump the Russian leader is lying. Zelensky said in a joint briefing in Berlin with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: 'I told the US president and all our European colleagues that Putin is bluffing. 'He is trying to apply pressure before the meeting in Alaska along all parts of the Ukrainian front. Russia is trying to show that it can occupy all of Ukraine.' The comments followed a call involving Mr Trump, European leaders and Mr Zelensky, as Russian forces step up operations in eastern Ukraine. Speaking in Downing Street afterwards, Mr Starmer said Ukraine's territorial integrity must be protected. He added the UK is ready to increase pressure on Russia if necessary. Briefing the Coalition of the Willing after the calls, Mr Starmer said: 'This meeting [in Alaska]... is hugely important. As I've said to President Trump for the three-and-a-bit years this conflict has been going on, we haven't got anywhere near a viable way of bringing it to a ceasefire. ‌ 'And now we do have that chance, because of the work President [Trump] has put in.' The Prime Minister spoke as Kyiv officials expressed concern the Kremlin may attempt to use battlefield pressure to force Ukraine into concessions. Mr Zelensky said he hoped the primary focus of the Alaska talks would be an immediate ceasefire, with any discussions on territorial issues to be addressed at a meeting involving all three leaders. ‌ He said: 'Regarding our principles and territorial integrity, in the end, this is all decided at the level of leaders. Without Ukraine, it is impossible to decide this.' Mr Zelensky, who also called for stricter sanctions if Russia refuses to agree to a ceasefire, said: 'Putin definitely does not want peace – he wants to occupy Ukraine.' Nato's Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, said after a separate call with Mr Trump, Mr Zelensky and European leaders: 'We are united in pushing to end this terrible war. The ball is now in Putin's court.' When asked about potential concessions in the Donbas region, Mr Zelensky said: '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. I have no right to surrender my country's land.' ‌ Mr Merz, speaking alongside Mr Zelensky after the trilateral call, said: 'We made it clear Ukraine must be at the table at the next meeting. 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.' He added robust security guarantees are essential for Kyiv, including continued Western support. Mr Starmer thanked the coalition countries that contributed to military plans 'which are now ready in a form which can be used if we do get to that ceasefire'. No10 said European leaders thanked Mr Trump for getting Putin to the table. Downing Street added: '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 security guarantees to defend its territorial integrity as part of any deal. 'Europe stands ready to support this and will continue to work alongside President Trump and President Zelensky for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They looked forward to speaking again following the meeting in Alaska.'

Trump's administration slams Britain for ‘serious restrictions' on free speech over past year
Trump's administration slams Britain for ‘serious restrictions' on free speech over past year

The Sun

time27 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Trump's administration slams Britain for ‘serious restrictions' on free speech over past year

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump's administration has attacked Britain for 'serious restrictions' on free speech over the past year. It said that 'the human rights situation worsened in the United Kingdom' during 2024. 2 A US State Department report cites attempts to 'chill speech' online in the wake of last summer's Southport attack as well as the recent Online Safety Act that polices content on the internet. The report said: 'Significant human rights issues included credible reports of serious restrictions on freedom of expression, including enforcement of or threat of criminal or civil laws in order to limit expression; and crimes, violence, or threats of violence motivated by antisemitism.' One section also highlights arrests made in the wake of the Southport murders following social media commentary. They included Lucy Connolly, who was jailed after posting that migrant hotels should be burned down. Police at the time also told people not to speculate about the identity of the murderer Axel Rudakubana. The report called the ' two-tier enforcement of these laws following the Southport attacks an especially grievous example of government censorship'. It added: 'Censorship of ordinary Britons was increasingly routine, often targeted at political speech.' Yesterday the UK government said: 'Free speech is vital for democracy around the world, including here in the UK, and we are proud to uphold freedoms whilst keeping our citizens safe.' It came as the National Police Chiefs' Council issued new guidance yesterday encouraging forces to disclose the ethnicity of suspects in high profile cases. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it would provide 'greater transparency'. Awkward moment Trump blasts 'nasty' Sadiq Khan for 'terrible job'… before Starmer interrupts: 'He's a friend of mine!' 2

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store