In a recent statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the support of European allies in their joint declaration that any peace negotiations with Russia must include Ukraine.
"The end of the war must be fair, and I am grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine and our people today for the sake of peace in Ukraine, which is defending the vital security interests of our European nations," Zelenskyy stated in a social media post on August 10.
According to American Military News, the joint statement by leaders from Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission was released on August 9, ahead of a scheduled meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The European leaders welcomed Trump's efforts to resolve the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine, which has lasted for over 41 months. However, they emphasized the need to exert pressure on Moscow and provide security guarantees for Kyiv.
The European leaders' statement firmly reiterated their support for Ukraine, especially after Kyiv resisted U.S. suggestions that it might need to surrender some territory to Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron asserted that Ukraine's future "cannot be decided without the Ukrainians."
The statement further emphasized that "Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny," and that the path to peace must involve active diplomacy, support for Ukraine, and pressure on Russia to end their illegal war.
NBC News reported on August 9 that the White House is considering inviting Zelenskyy to the Alaska meeting on August 15. However, another White House official, quoted by Reuters, stated that while Trump would be open to a three-way meeting in Alaska, the current plans only involve bilateral talks between Trump and Putin, as requested by the Russian leader.
President Zelenskyy has expressed his readiness for direct talks with Putin, who has so far declined such a meeting. Trump has suggested that any resolution to the war could include a "swapping of territories," a proposal that conflicts with Kyiv's longstanding position that it must regain all the territory currently occupied by Russia. "We're going to get some back, and we're going to get some switched," Trump stated at the White House on August 8.
In a video released hours later, Zelenskyy warned that any peace deal that excludes Kyiv or forces the ceding of territory would not be acceptable. "Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier," he declared.
He further emphasized that any decisions made without Ukraine's involvement are decisions against peace and will not yield any results. "The path to peace for Ukraine should be determined together and only together with Ukraine this is key principle," he said.
Macron echoed Zelenskyy's sentiments, stating that "the future of Ukraine cannot be decided without the Ukrainians, who have been fighting for their freedom and security for more than three years now." The Wall Street Journal reported on August 9 that European officials had presented a counterproposal to the unspecified U.S. plan, which included a requirement for a cease-fire before any other steps are taken and that any swaps of territory be reciprocal and include security guarantees.
The Trump-Putin talks come at a critical juncture, with Trump growing increasingly frustrated with Putin and the Russian president showing no signs of yielding to the Kremlin's maximalist demands. The decision to meet Putin face-to-face reflects Trump's belief that his relationship with the Russian leader will yield a durable peace agreement. For Putin, meeting Trump in person without the presence of Zelenskyy or Ukrainian officials is a small victory, reflecting Putin's position that Zelenskyy is an illegitimate leader and that a grand bargain to end the war can only be reached directly with the United States.
The war in Ukraine, instigated by Russia's invasion, has become the largest land war in Europe since World War II. It has devastated Ukraine and transformed Russia, turning its economy into a war machine and establishing a police-state government that criminalizes dissent. Despite the toll and international pressure, Putin has continued to press his advantage on and off the battlefield.
The damage and casualties caused by the Ukrainian attacks are disproportionate to the many deaths and injuries, and severe destruction inflicted by the Russian forces since the invasion began. Ukraine's military also claimed on August 10 that it had retaken the village of Bezsalivka in the northeastern Sumy region from the Russian Army, stating that 18 Russian troops had been "eliminated" in the fighting.
The announcement of the summit coincided with a deadline Trump set for Putin to agree to a cease-fire or face severe tariffs targeting Russia's oil and other exports, along with its trading partners facing secondary tariffs on oil purchased from Russia. The upcoming Trump-Putin talks, therefore, carry significant implications for the future of Ukraine and the broader geopolitical landscape.
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