European Leaders Trump Putin Summit Preparations Intensify

European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are rallying ahead of the European leaders Trump Putin summit set for Friday in Alaska. Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin Wednesday for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and virtual meetings with other European and U.S. leaders. The goal: ensure European and Ukrainian voices are heard before President Donald Trump meets Russian President Vladimir Putin.

German government spokesperson Steffen Meyer said the meetings aim to “make clear the position of the Europeans,” as neither Ukraine nor EU leaders were formally invited to the Alaska talks.

Coordinated Push Before the Alaska Summit

Zelenskyy first meets with European leaders before joining a virtual call with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Later, members of the “coalition of the willing” — nations ready to help enforce any future peace agreement — will join a final discussion.

Writing on his official Telegram channel, Zelenskyy warned there is “no sign that the Russians are preparing to end the war.” He urged coordinated action to “force Russia to peace,” stressing that pressure must be sustained to prevent Moscow from manipulating negotiations.

Tensions Over Ukraine’s Role in Talks

Trump has framed the Alaska meeting as a “feel-out” session to gauge Putin’s intentions. However, he has frustrated European allies by suggesting Ukraine should cede some Russian-held territory and accept potential land swaps.

Zelenskyy rejected any such concessions, saying Ukraine will not withdraw from the 30% of Donetsk it still controls. He called territorial compromise unconstitutional and a prelude to further Russian aggression.

European leaders fear talks excluding Ukraine could favor Moscow and embolden Putin to target other countries if he secures victory in Ukraine.

Shifting U.S. Priorities and Security Concerns

Since returning to office, Trump has removed Ukraine’s NATO membership from the table — a key Russian demand — and signaled that Europe must now take the lead on regional security. Senior EU officials believe Trump may be satisfied with securing only a ceasefire, prioritizing U.S.-Russia business opportunities and broader geopolitical interests.

Russian Advances and Ukrainian Counterstrikes

Russian forces are advancing near Pokrovsk in the Donbas region, a critical industrial area that Putin has long targeted. Losing Pokrovsk could threaten Ukrainian supply lines and hand Moscow a symbolic win before the summit.

Meanwhile, Ukraine struck Russia’s Bryansk region overnight, hitting the Unecha oil pumping station. The facility feeds two major pipelines with a combined capacity of 60 million tons per year. Ukrainian military officials said the attack caused significant damage and a large fire, disrupting supplies to Russian forces.

SOURCE: AP News