US President Donald Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian leaders, including Vice President JD Vance, to discuss the security interests of Europe and Ukraine ahead of his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week.
The meeting, organized by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, aims to protect Ukraine’s security and territorial claims. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have also expressed concerns that Trump and Putin might agree on land swaps or other terms without Ukrainian participation.
Ukraine and its European allies reject the idea that Russia should claim any territory before agreeing to a ceasefire. Instead, they want a ceasefire to be the starting point for negotiations. The Europeans believe Ukraine’s best defense is strong armed forces to deter Russia from striking again.
The US administration has already taken Ukraine’s membership of NATO off the table for the foreseeable future. However, European leaders are determined to maintain unity and work together to support Ukraine. They have agreed to increase sanctions against Russia, military support for Ukraine, and assistance with Ukraine’s budgetary needs.
Trump said he would get “everybody’s ideas” before meeting with Putin, but it is unclear if he will participate in the talks convened by Merz. The US and Russia are expected to discuss land swaps or other territorial claims, which could have significant implications for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
As the situation on the ground remains volatile, with over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians killed in recent fighting, European leaders are working to find a peaceful solution.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/europe-ukraine-territory-russia-trump-putin-summit-5d2079bd13561edac7752d338ea7b93c