European Union flags at the European commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. on 1 August 2025. Photo: EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

European leaders on Sunday released a joint statement urging that Ukraine must be involved in any negotiations between the US and Russia, as US President Donald Trump prepares to meet with Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday to negotiate an end to the three-and-a-half-year-long war.

Although Europe welcomed Trump’s efforts to “stop the killing in Ukraine, end the Russian Federation’s war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine”, the statement said, it remained “convinced that only an approach that combines active diplomacy, support to Ukraine and pressure on the Russian Federation to end their illegal war can succeed”.

“Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny”, the statement continued. “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. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force”.

“We will continue to cooperate closely with President Trump and with the United States of America, and with President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine, for a peace in Ukraine that protects our vital security interests”, concluded the statement, which was issued by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

In his nightly address to Ukrainians on Sunday, Zelensky struck a similar tone, hailing the “determination with which President Trump is committed to bringing an end to the killings in this war” but warning that Russia would “try to deceive America” in upcoming peace talks without Ukraine.

“Every day, many people are giving their lives. But the sole root cause of these killings is Putin’s desire to wage war and manipulate everyone he comes into contact with,” Zelensky said, stressing that Ukraine would “not allow” Russia to mislead its Western allies.

Shortly after Trump announced the Alaska summit on Friday, Zelensky rejected out of hand his suggestion that Ukraine could cede some of its land to Russia as part of a deal to end the war and reiterated that exchanges of territory — which the Trump administration has repeatedly hinted would form part of any peace settlement — were a non-starter for Kyiv.

While Trump has not ruled out a future trilateral meeting involving both Putin and Zelensky, the Ukrainian president is not expected to be present at this week’s Alaska summit, with Trump telling reporters last week that he intended to “start off with Russia” before involving Ukraine in further talks.