Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders will hold an online conversation with US President Donald Trump ahead of his scheduled meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, according to the European Commission.
Deputy Chief Spokesperson of the European Commission Arianna Podesta confirmed the call to Suspilne, saying it will take place on 13 August. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is organizing the conversation, which will include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The diplomatic outreach follows Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s disclosure that Washington promised to consult with European partners regarding negotiations with Russia.
Multiple European nations have expressed support for Trump’s efforts to end the Russian-Ukrainian wars. France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Great Britain, Finland and the European Commission backed Trump’s peace initiative but stressed that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be determined without it.”
Eight Nordic and Baltic countries issued a separate statement underlining that diplomatic settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian war must defend “vital security interests” of both Ukraine and Europe.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has convened a meeting of European foreign ministers to discuss the situation.
This comes as Trump and Putin agreed to meet on 15 August in Alaska. Bloomberg reported that Washington and Moscow seek to reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine that would secure occupied territories for Russia.
The Wall Street Journal wrote that Putin presented the Trump administration with a ceasefire plan in exchange for territorial concessions from Kyiv.
Trump suggested that a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine would likely require “a certain exchange of territories for the benefit of both sides.” Specifically, Ukraine should withdraw troops from all of Donetsk Oblast, while Crimea should be recognized as sovereign Russian territory.
Following these reports, Zelenskyy said that “Ukraine will not give away its lands to anyone.”