EU seeks red lines ahead of Trump Putin talks

Germany's Friedrich Merz seeks to coordinate with Trump and Zelenskyy as EU push for red lines grows ahead of the Alaska meeting with Putin.

Merz invites Trump to emergency EU leaders call ahead of Putin summit

The German chancellor Friedrich Merz invited Donald Trump to join an emergency virtual talk with EU leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday. The meeting would discuss options to pressure Russia and prepare for possible peace negotiations and security guarantees. It is not clear whether Trump has accepted the invitation. EU foreign ministers were meeting in an emergency session to press for stronger Western action and clearly defined red lines ahead of Friday’s Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin.

European leaders have said Russia poses an existential threat to Europe and that Ukraine must be part of any deal. Disagreements over ceasefire terms, sanctions, and any land swaps have raised concerns that a private deal could undermine Kyiv’s security. There is worry that Trump’s personal rapport with Putin could push for concessions that do not fully protect Ukrainian interests. The White House says the Alaska talks are about testing whether Putin is willing to offer concessions, including security guarantees for Ukraine. A joint statement from leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Britain, Finland and the European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen urged Trump to apply more pressure on Russia and stressed that the path in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.

The invitation signals Europe’s attempt to shape US diplomacy by bringing Trump into a high-stakes discussion. If he participates, the meeting could inject unpredictability into policy, driven by domestic politics rather than a shared strategy. That risk is heightened by Trump’s history of renegotiating pace and terms with Moscow. The Alaska summit will test how far the Western alliance stands behind Ukraine and whether sanctions and security guarantees stay firm under pressure.

Europe’s stance remains clear: Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable, and any deal must include Ukraine and credible security assurances. The tension lies in balancing a desire for breakthrough with a fear of concessions that could erode Kyiv’s position. The outcome could redefine Western unity at a moment when Moscow seeks to exploit divisions and a volatile political moment in Washington.

Highlights

The coming days will reveal whether a united front can steer a fragile peace.