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Brussels, Belgium – August 2025
Following a high-level debriefing by U.S. President Donald Trump on his recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, European leaders have issued a joint statement expressing their readiness to support a trilateral meeting involving the United States, Ukraine, and Russia. The proposed summit aims to advance diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.
🔹 Joint Statement and Key Demands
The statement, released by the European Commission and signed by senior leaders including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and others, welcomed President Trump’s renewed engagement in the peace process. The leaders emphasized that any resolution must include “ironclad security guarantees” for Ukraine and uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“We are ready to work with President Trump and President Zelenskyy towards a trilateral summit with European support,” the statement read.
“Ukraine must have the right to make decisions about its own territory. International borders must not be changed by force.”
🔹 Security Guarantees and Strategic Principles
European leaders outlined several non-negotiable principles for any peace framework:
- No limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces or its defense partnerships
- Russia must not have a veto over Ukraine’s path to EU or NATO membership
- Continued sanctions on Russia until hostilities cease and a just peace is achieved
President Zelenskyy echoed the European position, stating that any peace must be “real and lasting,” not merely a pause between invasions. He also urged that sanctions be strengthened if Russia obstructs or evades meaningful negotiations.
🔹 Diverging Reactions Across Europe
While the joint statement reflected broad consensus, some European leaders voiced sharper criticism of Russia’s intentions. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide described Putin’s remarks in Alaska as “coded justification for the illegal invasion,” while Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala warned that Moscow remains focused on territorial expansion.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas added:
“The harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon. Putin continues to drag out negotiations and hopes he gets away with it.”
🔹 Next Steps
President Trump is scheduled to meet President Zelenskyy in Washington on Monday, where the groundwork for a trilateral summit may be laid. European leaders have indicated their willingness to participate or support the process, provided that Ukraine’s core interests are protected.
President Zelensky and Ursula von der Leyen Picture by Heute
