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Zelenskyy and European Leaders Hold Berlin Summit With Trump Before Putin Talks
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to join Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin for a pivotal virtual meeting with the US President Donald Trump, according to a report by Bild on August 13.
The purpose of the summit is to prepare for the upcoming Putin-Trump meeting scheduled for Friday in Alaska. The meeting is crucial for discussing potential peace negotiations, with European leaders keen to unify their position before Trump’s talks with the Russian leader.
Merz, who is cutting short his summer vacation for this, is focused on ensuring that Trump doesn’t enter into any agreements that could negatively affect Ukraine or Europe. According to German government sources, the videoconference will explore Russia’s territorial claims and potential security guarantees for Ukraine, addressing how Europe can respond to these concerns.
The summit, which includes leaders from the UK, France, Italy, Poland, Finland, and the European Union, aims to present a united European front, signaling strong backing for Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is attending, emphasized the need for a fair and lasting peace, backed by credible security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression, according to Bild.
“I am determined to achieve a just and lasting peace, underpinned by robust and credible security guarantees that deter Russia from threatening Ukraine in the future,” Starmer said this morning.
Later in the afternoon, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance will reportedly join the European leaders, marking an effort to align the US and Europe on a unified approach. However, it’s clear that the real negotiations between Trump and Putin will take place in Alaska, with Europe looking on from the sidelines, Bild writes.
Previously, it was reported that Washington has promised to consult with its European partners ahead of the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Speaking at a press conference, Tusk expressed a mixture of fear and hope about the war in Ukraine, as he awaited the outcome of the talks between the two leaders.
