EU presses Trump to defend security interests at Putin summit

EU leaders urge the US to protect European security as a Putin summit looms.

EU presses Trump to defend security interests at Putin summit

European Union leaders pressed US President Donald Trump to defend Europe’s security interests at an upcoming summit with Vladimir Putin. In Brussels they said any peace process must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and international law, warning that Moscow could use battlefield gains to shape negotiations. The Alaska summit arrives as Europe seeks a voice in diplomacy often dominated by Washington, and as Kyiv weighs its own role in talks. Trump has signaled a willingness to test Putin’s seriousness on ending the war but has also suggested Ukraine may have to make concessions. The gathering comes amid fears that Putin could secure favorable terms without broad European or Ukrainian input.

The episode exposes a core tension in transatlantic diplomacy: Europe wants a seat at the table but depends on US leadership to shape a deal. Trump’s approach risks sidelining Kyiv and complicating allied unity at a crucial moment. At the same time, Putin’s battlefield moves and past maneuvers to leverage energy and borders threaten to tilt negotiations in his favor before formal talks begin. The divergence within the EU, highlighted by Orbán’s dissent, underscores fragility in European consensus even as Western allies push for a united front.

Highlights

Diplomatic moves in the coming days will test Europe’s leverage and staying power.