Europe: No Peace in Ukraine without Kyiv’s Participation

Trump and Putin to Meet in Alaska, Zelensky and Europeans Demand Ukrainian Involvement

Leaders of six European countries and the European Commission emphasized in a joint statement that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine”. The statement comes ahead of planned peace talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled to take place in Alaska on August 15.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sharply rejected the idea of a peace agreement excluding Kyiv: “Any decisions without Ukraine are decisions against peace. They are dead decisions and will never work,” he stated in a Telegram post. He added that Ukraine would not cede its territory to the occupier: “Ukraine will not reward Russia for what it has done.”

Expectations and Concerns Ahead of the Alaska Meeting

Trump confirmed he would meet Putin in Alaska, noting that “there may be some swapping of territories” as part of a potential deal to end the war. This idea has drawn sharp criticism from Ukraine and its European partners, who argue that such proposals would only strengthen Russia’s position to continue the conflict.

European leaders – represented by France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Finland, the UK and the head of the European Commission – added that “international borders must not be changed by force” and promised to continue diplomatic, military and financial support for Ukraine.

Key Points from Participants’ Positions

• The US is preparing a trilateral meeting, but so far only Trump and Putin are confirmed to attend.
• Macron emphasized that “Europe’s security is also at stake in these talks”, and European nations must participate actively.
• Zelensky insists: “True peace requires Ukraine to be at the negotiating table.”
• Putin insists Ukraine must relinquish territories, including Donbas and Crimea, as a condition for a truce.

European Solidarity and Perspective

Europe firmly defends the principle that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are inviolable. “Ukraine has the right to decide its own destiny. Strong and reliable security guarantees are essential,” says the European leaders’ statement.

The upcoming talks in Alaska are set to be key for the future of the war. Whether Ukraine will be included in the final agreements remains uncertain, but both European partners and Zelensky have already reminded that any instant solution without Kyiv will not bring lasting peace.