Ukraine reacts to Trump Putin summit

European responses to the Alaska meeting mix cautious support with warnings about accountability and the end of violence.

Ukraine Faces Mixed European Reactions After Trump Putin Summit

European leaders from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania issued a joint declaration saying Putin cannot be trusted and Russia must end its violations of international law. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked the Nordic and Baltic states for their support and signaled that Kyiv expects a meaningful leadership-level discussion on steps toward peace. Zelenskiy is due to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington, underscoring how US engagement remains central even as European voices shape the terms of any possible settlement.

The statement and Zelenskiy’s comments frame a push for concrete moves and a ceasefire, while Kyiv stresses that any path to peace must be anchored in accountability and clear commitments. The Alaska summit has spotlighted the difficult balance Western allies try to strike between pressuring Moscow and preserving room for diplomacy, with leadership-level talks seen as a potential turning point rather than a guarantee.

The scene shows Europe leaning on a firm line toward Moscow, even as the United States under Trump introduces an unpredictable element to diplomacy. The Nordic-Baltic declaration signals a durable stance that any peace process must respect international law and hold Russia to account. If European and American messages stay synchronized, Kyiv could gain leverage; if not, disagreement could dilute pressure on Moscow.

In the longer run, Washington and European capitals will need a single, credible strategy to sustain momentum. The absence of verifiable ceasefire steps or security guarantees makes any agreement more fragile. The coming talks will test not only political will but bureaucratic patience across NATO and the EU, and they will shape how the world judges Western unity on Ukraine.

Highlights

Diplomacy remains a work in progress as real-world pressure tests every promise.