European Leaders Seek To Influence Trump-Putin Summit Over Ukraine
In an extensive display of unity and diplomatic effort, European leaders are seeking to influence the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The leaders aim to ensure that the fate of Ukraine, a country at the center of a protracted conflict with Russia, is not determined without its involvement. A sentiment echoed by Donald Tusk, who stated, everyone was on edge about the outcome of this meeting.
Historic Echoes and Fears
The upcoming summit, scheduled to take place in Alaska, has stirred memories of the Yalta Summit of 1945, where the map of Europe was redrawn without input from the affected countries. The New York Times noted this historical parallel, pointing to the fears among European leaders and Ukraine that history might repeat itself.
A United Front
Leaders of several European countries, including Poland, Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, and Finland, are preparing a new statement aiming to influence the direction of the talks. This comes after a joint declaration by 26 countries, but Hungary did not sign, according to La Repubblica. The paper further noted that from 2022, the EU has provided more military aid to Ukraine than the United States.
European Council President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the common ground between Europe, the US, and NATO for Ukraine, while EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for transatlantic unity, support for Ukraine, and pressure on Russia as the solution to the ongoing war.
Pre-Summit Negotiations
In a pre-summit maneuver, European leaders held a virtual meeting with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski and Trump on Wednesday. The goal was to prevent Trump from abandoning Ukraine during his discussion with Putin about ending the war in Ukraine.
Zelenski asserted, Moscow cannot veto Kiev in the EU and NATO,
during a video conference with Trump, as reported by ANSA. While European leaders presented a five-point plan, Trump accepted their request that there should be no negotiations on Ukraine, without Ukraine.
The Road Ahead
There are indications that a second summit involving Putin, Trump, and Zelenski could be on the horizon. The leaders have received approval from Washington for an immediate three-way summit on the occupied territories, possibly next week,
La Repubblica reported.
While the upcoming Trump-Putin summit has sparked concerns, it has also presented an opportunity for European leaders to present a united front in support of Ukraine. However, the ultimate outcome still hinges on the discussions between Trump and Putin.
As the world waits for the outcome of the upcoming summit, European leaders and Ukraine will continue to push for their interests, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict that respects Ukraine's sovereignty.