Pre summit diplomacy expands virtual talks ahead of Alaska summit

Germany hosts a virtual briefing with Trump, Zelenskyy and European partners ahead of the Alaska summit between Trump and Putin.

Germany Holds Virtual Pre Summit Talks With Trump Zelenskyy EU Leaders

BRUSSELS — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz invited U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the NATO secretary general and several European leaders to a virtual meeting on Wednesday. The talks aim to discuss the situation in Ukraine and to map options for pressuring Russia, as well as preparations for possible peace negotiations and related security questions. Europeans and Ukrainians are not invited to the Alaska summit centered on the Trump-Putin meeting.

The discussion underscores a push among European officials to influence the diplomacy around the summit while keeping Ukraine at the center of any deal. EU foreign ministers met after U.S.-Europe security talks over the weekend and stressed that Ukraine’s sovereignty should not be traded away in backroom negotiations. While some participants acknowledge Moscow’s leverage on the front line, they insist that any land-related concessions must involve Kyiv and be tied to a ceasefire and lasting guarantees.

This pre summit diplomacy signals an attempt to shape the terms of any deal before it is written into a formal agreement. It also highlights a tension: who negotiates, what is traded, and how much sovereignty Kyiv will concede in pursuit of peace. Germany’s démarche shows appetite for inclusive talks, but the risk is sidelining Ukraine from decisions that affect its future. The discussions reflect a broader question about security guarantees and Ukraine’s path toward EU or NATO membership as the conflict evolves.

In the short term, the Alaska talks could set the tone for weeks of diplomacy. They may push Moscow to offer tangible commitments or, conversely, expose a rift if allies cannot speak with a united voice about territory and sovereignty. The debate over land swaps remains the most contentious point, with European leaders insisting any changes require Kyiv’s consent and a clear ceasefire.

Highlights

Diplomacy moves quietly but its echoes shape the battlefield that follows.