European leaders expressed cautious optimism following a virtual meeting with US President Donald Trump, who affirmed Ukraine’s central role in territorial decisions ahead of his high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The discussion aligned transatlantic positions on ending the war while addressing concerns about potential concessions to Moscow.
Participants included Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, Poland, alongside EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined from Berlin, where he had traveled specifically for the coordinated diplomatic push. The primary goal was establishing unified red lines before Trump’s unprecedented direct talks with Putin.
The Wednesday video conference occurred just 48 hours before the scheduled US-Russia summit at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, the first such meeting since 2021. This timing reflected European anxieties about being sidelined in peace negotiations after Trump abruptly announced the Alaska talks the prior week. The hastily arranged call served as a last-minute effort to safeguard Ukraine’s interests amid fears Trump might accept Russian territorial demands.
Context centered on Trump’s recent references to possible “land-swapping” between Ukraine and Russia, echoing Putin’s longstanding demands to annex occupied regions. Moscow had reiterated its maximalist position hours earlier, requiring Ukrainian surrender of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia plus NATO renunciation as ceasefire preconditions. European leaders sought explicit commitments against such concessions.
During the 90-minute discussion, Trump reportedly agreed that territorial adjustments must involve Ukraine’s government and that security guarantees were essential to any deal. French President Emmanuel Macron stated Trump clarified his intentions while allowing Europeans to “express our expectations.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized they’d “made it clear Ukraine must be at the table” for follow-up talks, signaling alignment on core principles.
The immediate impact saw Trump publicly rate the meeting “a 10” while warning of “very severe” consequences if Russia continues its aggression. He suggested a potential trilateral summit with Putin and Zelensky should Friday’s talks progress. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted “real progress” on security guarantees, referencing a Franco-British-led “Coalition of the Willing” to deter future Russian incursions.
Looking ahead, attention shifts to Friday’s Alaska summit where Trump aims to secure a ceasefire. Key unresolved issues include the mechanism for security guarantees and consequences if Russia violates terms. European leaders unanimously stressed that any agreement requires Ukraine’s approval, with Poland’s Donald Tusk warning “one can’t trust Russia” and Merz advocating increased sanctions pressure should Putin refuse concessions.
Zelensky maintained Putin was “bluffing” about Russia’s economic resilience, urging tougher sanctions during his subsequent London meeting with Starmer. Trump privately acknowledged limitations, admitting past ceasefire attempts failed as “rockets hit nursing homes” shortly after negotiations. The complex diplomacy unfolds against continued fighting in Donbas, where Russian advances near Dobropillya highlight battlefield urgency.