Europe presses Trump on Ukraine in virtual session

European leaders press President Trump in a virtual session to keep Ukraine and allied interests at the center before a planned Alaska summit with Putin

Europe aims to steer Trump on Ukraine in pivotal virtual briefing

European leaders led by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a virtual meeting with Trump. Other participants include leaders from Finland, France, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom, plus the NATO secretary general and the chiefs of the EU executive bodies. Zelenskyy joined from Berlin. They aim to press for a peace that respects Ukraine and to keep Ukraine at the negotiating table before any deal.

Analysts caution that Europe has limited leverage. They note that Trump and his vice president may push for concessions that could shift burden away from US allies. Zelenskyy did not attend in person. The bloc of the willing has not delivered decisive results so far. Observers say Alaska will test how much sway Europe can exert on the talks and whether sanctions remain a shared priority.

Europe is testing a moment of fragility. The talks reveal a gap between the desire of European leaders to defend Ukraine and the reality of a US administration navigating domestic politics. If Europe cannot keep Ukraine at the center, support for Kyiv could fray and the war could drag on. The alliance risks losing legitimacy if it appears to bargain away territory or sovereignty in pursuit of a deal.

Highlights

The Alaska talks will show how much sway remains for a fast changing transatlantic alliance