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European Unity on Ukraine Peace Process
Leaders from Germany, France, Britain, Poland, Finland, Italy and the European Commission issued a joint declaration emphasizing Ukraine's essential role in any peace negotiations. This statement comes ahead of the scheduled meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Core Principles Outlined
The European leaders expressed appreciation for Trump's initiative to end the Ukraine conflict but stressed that "no peace plan can materialize without Ukraine's participation." They established that meaningful negotiations require either a ceasefire or significant reduction in hostilities as a precondition.
Furthermore, the declaration firmly stated that Ukraine's internationally recognized borders are inviolable and cannot be altered through military aggression. This position aligns with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent statement that Ukraine will not cede territory to Russia.
The Alaska Summit Preparations
Trump and Putin are set to meet in Alaska on Friday, marking their first direct talks since 2019 and the first U.S.-Russia presidential summit since 2021. While the White House remains open to potentially including Zelensky in future discussions, the initial meeting will be strictly bilateral at Putin's request.
Parallel Diplomatic Efforts
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy convened separate talks at Chevening House in Kent. The meeting brought together representatives from Ukraine, European nations, and NATO. Though specific outcomes weren't disclosed, participants described "significant progress" toward ending the conflict.
Zelensky characterized the Kent discussions as productive during his nightly address, while maintaining Ukraine's firm position against territorial concessions.
