Ukraine unity shows in advance of Alaska talks

European leaders affirm Kyiv's central role in any peace and warn against concessions as Washington weighs a one on one or trilateral talks with Moscow.

Europe backs Ukraine ahead of Trump Putin meeting

A joint statement from European leaders underscored that peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved without Kyiv and that international borders must not be changed by force. The call comes as the United States signals openness to a bilateral meeting with Vladimir Putin on U.S. soil, with a potential trilateral format including Ukraine discussed in private comments.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly thanked European partners for their support and insisted that the end of the war must be fair and achieved with Ukraine at the negotiating table. Western officials have cautioned against any peace deal that would reward aggression or require Kyiv to concede territory, while emphasizing the need for robust security guarantees for Ukraine as talks loom.

The moment tests Europe’s cohesion and Kyiv’s leverage. The unity shown by EU leaders signals a clear preference for diplomacy that keeps Ukraine in the driver’s seat. Yet the dynamics also reveal a delicate balance: Western officials want real pressure on Moscow through sanctions and military aid, but they fear any settlement that erodes Ukraine’s sovereignty. This week highlights a broader trend in Western diplomacy where public backing for Kyiv sits alongside real concerns about Kyiv’s future security and political costs.

Sanctions and deterrence are central to the pressure strategy, but so far Moscow has shown a willingness to gamble on time and negotiation terms. The Alaska meeting could become a litmus test for both sides: will Putin show sufficient flexibility to satisfy demands for a credible peace, or will Kyiv face a push to make concessions it cannot accept without risking lasting damage to its sovereignty and regional security?

Highlights

Diplomacy is evolving under pressure from both war realities and global political caution.