European Parliament president Roberta Metsola holds the EU flag with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at the European Parliament during an address in Brussels (Reuters).
As global attention turns toward next week’s pivotal Trump–Putin summit in Alaska, European leaders have issued a firm warning: peace in Ukraine cannot be brokered without Ukraine’s consent.
In a unified statement from 26 of the 27 EU member states—Hungary the lone holdout—the bloc emphasized that “the people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future,” insisting that “the path to peace cannot be decided without Ukraine.”
Echoing this sentiment, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of preparing for yet another offensive rather than a ceasefire. “He is not preparing for a ceasefire or an end to the war,” Zelensky warned, pointing to troop redeployments as evidence that Moscow intends to continue its aggression.
The forthcoming summit has drawn criticism for excluding Ukraine from negotiations about its own future. With Trump hinting at possible “land swapping” as a diplomatic course—a notion Ukraine and its allies staunchly reject—the EU and Ukraine are coordinating urgent diplomacy to ensure Kyiv retains a seat at the table.
Speaking before a series of high-level virtual meetings, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz invited key players for emergency talks to discuss how to uphold Ukraine’s territorial integrity. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reiterated a clear red line: no peace deal without Ukraine; no borders redrawn by force.
President Zelensky also cautioned Trump directly, urging him not to trust Putin, whom he described as eager to use the summit as a propaganda victory while continuing hostilities. “Concessions do not persuade a killer,” he declared, underscoring that any ceasefire must come before territorial discussions.
On the ground, Ukraine reported further successes, liberating three villages in the Sumy region. Still, tensions remain high amid relentless Russian drone and missile attacks, particularly in Sumy, Donetsk, and Chernihiv.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance signaled a shift in Washington’s strategy, calling for Europe to assume greater responsibility in funding the conflict. At the same time, the U.S. appears to be weighing territorial compromises as part of a peace plan—moves Ukraine and European partners see as dangerous.
European foreign ministers, along with Ukraine’s leadership, are intensifying efforts to unify regional support. The message is clear: peace negotiations must uphold international law, respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, and involve the Ukrainian people directly.
