Trump is planning to meet Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15. A senior European official attributed Putin’s willingness to meet Trump to joint pressure from Washington and its allies. It would be the first time an American president has met with Putin since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022.
“It does not mean a deal or a truce has been agreed upon,” said the White House official. “The president is discussing it with all the relevant parties.”
Later Saturday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen along with the leaders of Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Finland issued a statement stressing the need to respect Ukraine’s borders and to include Kyiv in peace negotiations.
“We underline our unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” the leaders said in the statement. “The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine,” they said.
Zelenskyy said in his statement early Saturday that Ukraine is “ready to work together with President Trump.” But he said that decisions made without Ukraine are “unworkable.”
“Any decisions that are against us, any decisions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace,” Zelenskyy said. “They will not achieve anything. These are stillborn decisions.”
Megan Messerly, Felicia Schwartz and Myah Ward contributed reporting.