European Leaders Reject Trump-Putin Ukraine Talks Excluding Kyiv
Politics 11 days ago
European leaders including Macron, Meloni, and Starmer released a forceful statement asserting that Ukraine’s peace process cannot be decided without Kyiv’s participation, responding to news of Trump and Putin’s upcoming Alaska meeting. The document signed by seven leaders emphasized that meaningful negotiations require a ceasefire and Ukraine’s sovereign consent, while pledging continued military support and sanctions against Russia.
The statement condemned Russia’s invasion as violating international agreements and reaffirmed Europe’s ’unwavering commitment’ to Ukraine’s territorial integrity. While acknowledging Trump’s peace efforts, the leaders stressed that diplomacy must combine military aid and pressure on Moscow. Ukrainian President Zelensky had earlier criticized his exclusion from the talks, as UK and US officials prepared separate discussions with European allies about Trump’s peace proposal.
The planned Trump-Putin summit reportedly centers on a Russian proposal to exchange eastern Ukrainian territories for ending the war. European leaders closed their statement by vowing close cooperation with both Washington and Kyiv, insisting any peace must protect fundamental security interests while maintaining transatlantic unity against Russian aggression.