Zelenskiy, European leaders to speak to Trump ahead of Putin summit
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attend a meeting on the sidelines of NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands June 25, 2025. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
BRUSSELS/LONDON/KYIV - Europe and Ukraine's leaders will speak to U.S. President Donald Trump at a virtual meeting on Wednesday ahead of his summit with Russia's Vladimir Putin, as they try to drive home the perils of selling out Kyiv's interests in pursuit of a ceasefire.
Trump hosts Putin, a pariah in the West since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, at talks in Alaska on Friday that the U.S. president has said will serve as a "feel-out" meeting in his efforts to end the Russo-Ukraine war.
Trump agreed last week to the first U.S.-Russia summit since 2021, abruptly shifting course after weeks of voicing frustration with Putin for resisting the U.S. peace imitative. Trump said his envoy had made "great progress" at talks in Moscow.
The U.S. president says both Kyiv and Moscow will have to cede land to end the war. Russian troops have already occupied almost a fifth of Ukraine.
The unpredictability of how the summit will play out has fuelled European fears that the U.S. and Russian leaders could take far-reaching decisions and even seek to coerce Ukraine into an unfavourable deal.
"We are focusing now to ensure that it does not happen - engaging with U.S. partners and staying coordinated and united on the European side. Still a lot of time until Friday," said one senior official from eastern Europe.
Trump's administration tempered expectations on Tuesday for major progress toward a ceasefire, calling his meeting with Putin in Alaska a "listening exercise."
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The video conference among Trump, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the leaders of Germany, Finland, France, Britain, Italy, Poland and the European Union is expected to take place at 1200 GMT (1400 CET), a German government spokesperson said.
NATO's secretary general will also attend the conference hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Ukraine hopes the meeting will serve - at least partially - as a European counterweight to the summit in Alaska.
European leaders, who are wary of provoking Trump's ire, have repeatedly emphasised that they welcome his peace efforts, while underlining that there should be no deal about Ukraine without Ukraine's participation.
Half a dozen senior European officials told Reuters that they see a risk of a deal being struck that is unfavourable for Europe and Ukraine's security. They said European unity would be vital if that happened.
A source familiar with internal U.S. deliberations said it could not be ruled out that Trump would seek a deal directly with Putin without involving Ukraine or Europe. But the source voiced doubt about that, saying it could cause problems with Kyiv and the EU.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday the summit will be a "listening exercise" for Trump to hear what it will take to get to a deal.
After the call, Trump and Vice President JD Vance were expected to speak to European leaders at a separate online meeting at 1300 GMT (1500 CET), the German spokesperson said.
That will be followed at 1430 GMT by an online meeting of the "coalition of the willing", a group of countries working on plans to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
MOUNTING BATTLEFIELD PRESSURE
A Gallup poll released last week found that 69% of Ukrainians favour a negotiated end to the war as soon as possible. But polls also show Ukrainians do not want peace at any cost if that means crushing concessions.
Ahead of the calls, Zelenskiy said it would be impossible for Kyiv to agree to a deal that would require it to withdraw its troops from the eastern Donbas region, a large swathe of which is already occupied by Russia.
That, he told reporters on Tuesday, would deprive Ukraine of a vast defensive network in the region, easing the way for Russia to mount a new push deeper into Ukraine in the future.
Territorial issues, he added, could only be discussed once a ceasefire has been put in place and Ukraine has received security guarantees.
Moscow's troops have recently ramped up pressure on the battlefield, tightening their stranglehold on the cities of Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka in eastern Ukraine. REUTERS
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Straits Times
a minute ago
- Straits Times
Highlights of Putin statement after summit with Trump
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures as he and U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) hold a press conference following their meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Following are key quotes from Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement after meeting U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday. Translation by Reuters. ON RUSSIA-U.S. TIES As is known, Russian-American summits have not been held for more than four years. This is a long time. The past period was very difficult for bilateral relations. And, let's be honest, they have slid to the lowest point since the Cold War. And this is not good for our countries, or the world as a whole. Obviously, sooner or later, it was necessary to correct the situation, to move from confrontation to dialogue. And in this regard, a personal meeting of the heads of the two states was really overdue... ON UKRAINE As you well know and understand, one of the central issues has become the situation around Ukraine. We see the desire of the U.S. administration and President Trump personally to facilitate the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict, his desire to delve into the essence and understand its origins. I have said more than once that for Russia the events in Ukraine are associated with fundamental threats to our national security. Moreover, we have always considered and consider the Ukrainian people, I have said this many times, brotherly, no matter how strange that may sound in today's conditions. We have the same roots and everything that is happening for us is a tragedy and a great pain. Therefore, our country is sincerely interested in putting an end to this. But at the same time, we are convinced that in order for the Ukrainian settlement to be sustainable and long-term, all the root causes of the crisis must be eliminated... All of Russia's legitimate concerns must be taken into account, and a fair balance in the security sphere in Europe and the world as a whole must be restored. I agree with President Trump — he spoke about this today — that Ukraine's security must, without a doubt, be ensured. We are ready to work on this. I would like to hope that the understanding we have reached will allow us to get closer to that goal and open the way to peace in Ukraine. We expect that Kyiv and the European capitals will perceive all of this in a constructive manner and will not create any obstacles. That they will not attempt to disrupt the emerging progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes intrigue. ON ECONOMIC TIES It is obvious that Russian-American business and investment partnership has enormous potential. Russia and the United States have something to offer each other in trade, energy, the digital sphere, high tech and space exploration. Cooperation in the Arctic, resumption of interregional contacts, including between our Far East and the American West Coast, also seem relevant... I expect that today's agreements will become a reference point not only for solving the Ukrainian problem, but will also launch the restoration of business-like, pragmatic relations between Russia and the United States. ON COOPERATION WITH TRUMP Overall we have established very good business-like and trusting contact with President Trump. And I have every reason to believe that by moving along this path, we can - the quicker the better - reach an end to the conflict in Ukraine. REUTERS
AsiaOne
a minute ago
- AsiaOne
Trump says no summit deal reached with Putin over ending war in Ukraine, World News
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Straits Times
31 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Made-for-TV pageantry as Trump brings Putin in from the cold
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox US President Donald Trump (right) and Russian President Vladimir Putin shaking hands at the end of a press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Aug 15. ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Stepping foot on Western soil for the first time since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine , Russian President Vladimir Putin basked in choreographed pageantry courtesy of his US counterpart Donald Trump – and also signs of American power. In made-for-television images, the pair each flew in their presidential planes to Elmendorf Air Base, the largest US military installation in Alaska that played a key role in monitoring the Soviet Union. Mr Trump waited in Air Force One until Mr Putin landed and then stepped down to the tarmac, clapping as he saw the Russian leader for the first time since 2019, this time under a frigid slate-grey sky. They then walked toward each other, smiled and shook hands before posing together on a stage that read, 'Alaska 2025'. In a highly unusual move, Mr Putin stepped in 'The Beast,' the ultra-secure US presidential limousine, alongside Mr Trump before they headed into talks that were set to focus on Ukraine. Mr Putin grinned widely and appeared to joke to reporters as the two started their meeting in a room which the American hosts emblazoned with words – written only in English – 'Pursuing Peace'. The reception was a striking contrast to a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in February, when Mr Trump and Vice-President JD Vance berated him and accused him of ingratitude. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump says 'great progress' made in meeting with Putin over Ukraine war Singapore Nowhere to run: Why Singapore needs to start protecting its coasts now Singapore Using nature, multi-use structures among solutions being studied to protect Singapore coastlines Singapore ICA to review Ong Beng Seng's PR status after he is fined for abetting obstruction of justice Singapore HSA evaluating rapid urine test kits to enable faster detection of etomidate, found in Kpods Singapore Drug trafficker gets death sentence commuted after President Tharman grants clemency Opinion Revitalise nightlife? Let's get the crowds out first Mr Zelensky was long hailed across the Western world. Mr Putin by contrast has curtailed his travel sharply since he sent troops to invade Ukraine, and he faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court related to the war. Pressing their power Mr Putin was quickly confronted on the war as a reporter repeatedly and loudly shouted out to him, 'When will you stop killing civilians?' The Russian leader did not react. And both aides ahead of the summit sought to press their message, sometimes in unsubtle ways. As Mr Putin walked in, a B-2 stealth bomber – an ultimate symbol of US military power – flew overhead. Mr Sergei Lavrov, the veteran Russian Foreign Minister rarely seen out of a jacket and tie, was photographed arriving ahead of Mr Putin in Alaska in a sweatshirt emblazoned with 'CCCP' – the USSR – in a reminder of the superpower status that Mr Putin has been striving to recreate. Senior Russian officials were temporarily relieved from the severe US sanctions in place since the Ukraine invasion, allowing them not just to arrive in the United States but to carry out day-to-day transactions such as withdrawing money from cash machines. Mr Putin and Mr Trump were not expected to step off the base, but activists held out hope of at least a fleeting protest by posting blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flags on roofs that could be in eyesight if either leader stared out of a plane window on their descent. Protesters also taped signs to lampposts and walls near the downtown convention centre where journalists picked up accreditations and the occasional Russian official may have strolled. One sign with a portrait of Mr Putin read, 'This war criminal kidnaps children'. With just a week to prepare since Mr Trump announced the summit, Anchorage was strained to capacity with hotels full of pre-booked tourists on fishing expeditions and coastal cruises who had no warning that their summer destination would become the focus of global diplomacy. Russian journalists, unable to secure accommodation, posted disapproving pictures of staying inside a sporting arena, where they slept on cots partitioned off from one another by black curtains. The US hosts served the Russian journalists a selection of familiar foods – shashlik meat skewers, grilled fish and, in a common dish for Russians that suddenly could take on another meaning, chicken Kiev. AFP
