European allies have reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine, making it clear that any peace agreement with Russia must include Kyiv’s direct participation. In a strongly worded joint statement, leaders of the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission underscored that international borders must not be altered by force and that Ukraine alone has the right to decide its future. This collective stance comes ahead of US President Donald Trump’s scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, a summit that Moscow initially requested as a bilateral engagement. Although the White House has floated the idea of including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a trilateral meeting, it remains uncertain whether Putin will agree, given his repeated refusals for direct talks since launching the full-scale invasion over three years ago.
Zelensky has warned that any agreements forged without Kyiv’s involvement would be “dead decisions” and amount to rewarding Russia for aggression. Responding to Trump’s suggestion of possible “territorial swaps,” he firmly rejected any compromise that cedes Ukrainian land, warning it would only position Russia for renewed hostilities. Reports suggest the White House is testing European support for a plan that grants Russia control over the entire Donbas region and Crimea, but European capitals have dismissed such proposals, pledging continued diplomatic, military, and financial backing for Ukraine.
