As the world holds its breath for a historic summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, a coalition of European leaders has issued a powerful and unified statement, insisting that the “path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.” The declaration, a joint effort by leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission, is a clear and direct pushback against any potential peace deal brokered without Kyiv’s consent.
The statement, released late Saturday, follows a series of high-stakes diplomatic meetings in London where U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy hosted a range of national security advisors from Ukraine and key European allies. These pre-summit talks were convened to forge a common strategy and set red lines ahead of Trump’s face-to-face meeting with Putin, which is scheduled for Friday.
The central point of contention is President Trump’s recent public comments hinting at a “swapping of territories” as a way to end the war. This proposal has been met with immediate and fierce rejection from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been firm in his position that Ukraine will not cede any land to Russia.
In a video address, Zelenskyy warned that any agreements made without Kyiv’s participation would be “dead decisions.” He stated, “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier… The path to peace for Ukraine should be determined together and only together with Ukraine, this is a key principle.”
The European leaders’ statement echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that they “remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.” They also stressed the need for “robust and credible security guarantees that enable Ukraine to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
This diplomatic maneuver is a crucial moment for transatlantic relations. With Trump at the helm, there is a palpable sense of unease in Europe about the direction of U.S. foreign policy. The London talks and the joint statement are an attempt by European powers to assert their own strategic interests and to ensure that any peace deal does not come at the expense of Ukraine’s sovereignty or Europe’s long-term security.
For now, the focus shifts to Alaska, where the two presidents will meet for the first time since 2019. While Trump has expressed optimism, the chasm between the Russian and Ukrainian positions remains immense. The joint statement from Europe serves as a powerful reminder that while the U.S. may be the driver of a potential peace deal, the fate of Ukraine will not, and cannot, be decided without a united front from its allies and its people.