European Leaders Seek to Align With Trump Ahead of Ukraine Summit with Putin

European leaders expressed tentative hope after a virtual meeting with Donald Trump, discussing the upcoming summit with Vladimir Putin to address the ongoing war in Ukraine.

European leaders recently engaged in a virtual conference with Donald Trump, who meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to seek an end to the conflict in Ukraine. Trump's focus during the meeting was on achieving a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, with France’s Emmanuel Macron stating that territorial disputes need to be negotiated involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The conversation provided an opportunity for European leaders, including those from the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Finland, as well as EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, to voice their expectations to the U.S. president. Following the call, Trump deemed the meeting “a ten” and threatened “very severe” repercussions for Russia should it not cease hostilities in Ukraine, while hinting at a potential second meeting with both leaders if Friday's discussions prove fruitful.

Despite this optimism, concerns lingered among the European leaders regarding the possibility of Trump conceding Ukrainian territories to Russia as part of a ceasefire settlement. Former Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned the necessity of emphasizing to Trump that Russia cannot be trusted, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reiterated the critical point that Ukraine must be a part of any negotiations moving forward.

Trump's recent references to “land-swapping” have heightened anxieties in Ukraine and among their allies that he may capitulate to Putin’s demands for territorial acquisitions. Current Russian demands include a ceasefire contingent on Ukraine's withdrawal from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, territories partially occupied by Russian forces.

President Zelensky voiced skepticism regarding Russia's intentions, suspecting that any concessions could be manipulated by Putin for future aggression. The conversation around security guarantees for Ukraine was echoed in the responses from European leaders, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasizing progress on this front. The “Coalition of the Willing,” comprising nations united against further Russian advances, stated their readiness to be involved in post-conflict arrangements, including potentially deploying protective forces when skirmishes cease, although details remain murky.

As the conflict persists, Zelensky remarked on Russia’s aggressive maneuvers, expressing doubt about the effectiveness of sanctions against the Russian economy, and calling for heightened pressure on Moscow from the international community. Trump acknowledged the challenges in changing Putin’s course during their discussions, indicating that achieving peace would remain a significant hurdle.