Europe Says Ukraine Must Be Included in Any Peace Talks With Russia
European countries are standing strongly with Ukraine again, saying very clearly that any peace talks with Russia must include Kyiv, according to BBC reports. BBC says leaders from the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland and the European Commission released a joint statement just before US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
BBC explains that the US has said Trump is open to a three-sided meeting with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. But for now, BBC says it is still a Trump-Putin meeting because Russia requested it that way. Zelensky warned that any agreement made without Ukraine will be “dead decisions,” BBC reports.
BBC also mentions that Trump earlier said he might first meet Putin alone, but he still hopes a meeting with both Putin and Zelensky may happen. However, BBC notes that Putin has avoided direct talks with Zelensky for years since the full invasion began.
Trump also suggested that there could be “swapping of territories” between Russia and Ukraine. BBC reports that Zelensky strongly rejected this, saying Ukraine will not reward Russia for its actions. He stressed on Telegram that any decisions made without Ukraine are decisions against peace.
BBC’s US partner, CBS, reports that the White House is trying to convince European countries to accept a deal where Russia keeps the whole Donbas region and Crimea. But BBC says European leaders refused this idea, saying borders cannot be changed by force and Ukraine must choose its own future.
BBC also reports that Europe is worried about having little influence on whatever Trump and Putin might agree on in Alaska. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X that Europe must be part of the solution because its own security is at risk.
On Sunday, Zelensky thanked the European countries. BBC says he repeated that the end of the war must be fair and must protect Europe’s security too. Zelensky also told Macron in a phone call that Russia should not be allowed to trick the world again, according to BBC.
BBC adds that US Vice-President JD Vance met UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and two of Zelensky’s top aides in London on Saturday. Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, told BBC that true peace is only possible if Ukraine is included in the talks.
The Alaska meeting will be the first time a sitting US president meets a Russian president since Biden met Putin in 2021. BBC reminds readers that nine months after that meeting, Russia launched its full invasion and later claimed four Ukrainian regions.
From a broader view, this situation shows how Europe is fighting to keep its voice at the table, not just supporting Ukraine but also protecting its own long-term safety. BBC reporting shows that the future of Europe’s security depends heavily on Ukraine being treated fairly and included fully in any peace decisions.
Credit : BBC