
Europe stresses Ukraine support ahead of Trump-Putin summit
They said: 'Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities.
'The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.
The path to peace for Ukraine must be determined together with Ukraine – this is fundamental. It is important that joint approaches and a shared vision work toward genuine peace. A consolidated position. Ceasefire. End of occupation. End of war.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 9, 2025
'We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.'
The statement comes a day after Mr Trump announced that he would meet Mr Putin in Alaska on Friday, as he seeks an end to a conflict he had promised he could finish on his first day in office.
The US president had earlier suggested that any peace deal was likely to involve 'some swapping of territories', with reports suggesting this could involve Ukraine giving up its Donetsk region.
But President Volodymyr Zelensky has already rejected any proposal that would compromise Ukraine's territorial integrity, something that is forbidden by Ukraine's constitution.
He said Mr Putin wanted to 'exchange a pause in the war, in the killing, for the legalisation of the occupation of our land – he wants to get territorial spoils for the second time'.
The UK's support for Ukraine remains ironclad as we continue working towards a just and lasting peace Foreign Secretary David Lammy
Mr Zelensky added: 'We will not allow this second attempt to partition Ukraine. Knowing Russia, where there is a second, there will be a third.'
He also said that any peace agreement that excluded Ukraine would be a decision 'against peace'.
In their statement, the European leaders said they welcomed Mr Trump's 'work to stop the killing in Ukraine, end the Russian Federation's war of aggression and achieve just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine'.
Adding that they were 'ready to support this work diplomatically' and through military and financial support for Kyiv, they reiterated the need for 'robust and credible security guarantees' for Ukraine and their own 'unwavering support' for the country.
The statement also comes after Foreign Secretary David Lammy hosted a meeting of top Ukrainian officials and European national security advisers alongside US vice-president JD Vance on Saturday.
Saturday's meeting of national security advisers was co-hosted by US vice-president JD Vance (Suzanne Plunkett/PA)
The meeting took place at the Foreign Secretary's official country retreat, Chevening, in Kent, where Mr Vance is staying at the start of a UK holiday.
After the meeting, Mr Lammy said: 'The UK's support for Ukraine remains ironclad as we continue working towards a just and lasting peace.'
It is understood that the meeting had been called at Washington's request, and included representatives from the US, Ukraine, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and Poland as well as the UK.
Ukraine was represented by Rustem Umerov, secretary of the country's national security and defence council, and the head of Mr Zelensky's office, Andriy Yermak.
In a post on social media, Mr Yermak said the allies' positions were 'clear' that 'a reliable, lasting peace is only possible with Ukraine at the negotiating table, with full respect for our sovereignty and without recognising the occupation'.
Ahead of the meeting at Chevening, Sir Keir discussed the talks in a call with Mr Zelensky on Saturday, and also spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues, with Ukrainian authorities reporting four people killed and 16 wounded in Russian drone strikes on Saturday in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


STV News
19 minutes ago
- STV News
Drivers over 70 could face mandatory eye tests every three years
The UK Government is considering compulsory eye tests every three years for drivers aged over 70 and a driving ban for those who fail. Ministers are also considering cutting the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to bring it in line with Scotland, according to The Times. The proposals, set to be published as part of a road safety strategy in the autumn, come amid concern about the number of people being killed or seriously injured on Britain's roads. Last year, 1,633 people were killed and almost 28,000 seriously injured in traffic incidents, and numbers have remained relatively constant following a large fall between 2000 and 2010. A Labour source said: 'At the end of the last Labour government, the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads was at a record low, but numbers have remained stubbornly high under successive Conservative governments. 'In no other circumstance would we accept 1,600 people dying, with thousands more seriously injured, costing the NHS more than £2 billion per year.' Meanwhile, the number of people killed in drink-driving incidents has risen over the past decade, reaching a 13-year high in 2022 and prompting concern that existing road safety measures are no longer working. Under the plans being considered by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, the drink-drive limit in England and Wales could be cut from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms. This figure would be in line with Scotland, which cut its drink-drive limit in 2014, and the rest of Europe, where no other country has a limit as high as that in England and Wales. The UK is also one of only three European countries to rely on self-reporting of eyesight problems that affect driving, leading ministers to consider compulsory eye tests every three years for drivers aged over 70 and a driving ban for those who fail. Other proposals are reported to include allowing the police to bring prosecutions for drug-driving on the basis of roadside saliva tests rather than blood tests as increasing numbers of drivers are being caught with drugs in their system. The Labour source added: 'This Labour Government will deliver the first road safety strategy in a decade, imposing tougher penalties on those breaking the law, protecting road users and restoring order to our roads.' The strategy is due to be published in the autumn, and all proposals will be subject to consultation. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country


Daily Mirror
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Elon Musk wants to start supplying energy to your home with new British Gas rival
The company has sought approval for an energy licence from regulator Ofgem in order to take on energy supply giants including British Gas owner Centrica and Octopus Energy Elon Musk's Tesla is gearing up to break into the energy market and could start supplying British households within months. The firm has applied for an energy licence from regulator Ofgem, setting its sights on competing with big players like British Gas owner Centrica and Octopus Energy. Since 2020, Tesla has been involved in the UK energy market, when it's licence to be an electricity generator was approved. It plans to begin providing power to homes and businesses across England, Scotland, and Wales as early as next year. Tesla Energy Ventures lodged the application last month, as revealed in a recent filing published by Ofgem. This news comes after a major broadband provider introduced a new £60 charge and issued a deadline to act. Andrew Payne, Director of Tesla's European energy business, signed off on the application. The electric car giant, helmed by the world's wealthiest man, also operates a solar energy and battery storage enterprise. This move comes about two years after Tesla began recruiting for a Head of Operations to oversee its proposed energy supply venture. Tesla has been a player in the UK energy market since 2020. In America, Musk's group acted as an electricity supplier in Texas for the past three years. However, it now appears that this need to infiltrate the UK market comes during a decrease of demand for Tesla's electric vehicles across Europe. Industry data revealed a nearly 60 percent drop in new Tesla registrations in the UK in July compared to the same period last year. Figures showed that 987 new vehicles were registered in the UK in July, down from 2,462 in the same month the previous year. Reporting that Ofgem can take up to nine months to process applications for energy supply licences, the BBC also highlighted Tesla's harsh competitors EV maker, China's BYD. Tesla's dropping numbers can be linked to Musk's involvement in the White House, his work with US President Donald Trump being widely criticised, despite their online 'break up' on X (Twitter). Musk's efforts in right-wing politics has found him involved in the UK, Italy and Germany - creating a rift between owners and would-be buyers Tesla's electric cars. British bill payers should note that Tesla's energy supply would not apply to dual-fuel contract households due to the car manufacturer applying for the electricity licence alone, states the Guardian.
.jpg%3Ftrim%3D0%2C32%2C0%2C31%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)

The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
What we know about the ‘shouting match' between Trump and Netanyahu
President Donald Trump reportedly engaged in a 'shouting match' with Benjamin Netanyahu on 28 July, disputing the reality of starvation in Gaza. The argument stemmed from Netanyahu's public denial of starvation in Gaza, which Trump countered by stating he had seen evidence of "real starvation" among children. Netanyahu's office quickly dismissed reports of a shouting match as "total fake news," while a White House spokesperson refrained from commenting on private discussions. A US official briefed on the call described it as a "direct, mostly one-way conversation about the status of humanitarian aid," with Trump doing most of the talking. The tense exchange led to special envoy Steve Witkoff travelling to the region to address humanitarian aid efforts, particularly concerning the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has faced criticism and a UN boycott.