European leaders have expressed strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and insisted Kyiv must be directly involved in any peace talks, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for a land swap to end the war with Russia.
The joint stance, voiced by leaders from the U.K., France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission, comes ahead of a Trump-Putin summit scheduled for Friday, August 15, in Alaska.
In their joint statement issued late Saturday, the leaders declared:
“The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.”
Trump’s Proposal and Zelenskyy’s Rejection
On Friday, President Trump said there could be “some swapping of territories” as part of a ceasefire deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately rejected the proposal, calling any decision made without Ukraine “unworkable.”
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is “ready to work together with President Trump,” but emphasized that Kyiv’s participation is non-negotiable in determining the terms of peace.
According to sources, the Trump administration’s draft proposal would freeze the front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, while allowing Russia to retain control of the Donbas region.
European Diplomacy Intensifies
In response, European governments began urgent coordination efforts before the Alaska summit. U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy convened a high-level meeting of European and Ukrainian officials, attended by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, to discuss potential ceasefire terms.
The leaders reiterated that “meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or a reduction of hostilities” and stressed that Ukraine must have full freedom to decide its future.
As the summit approaches, the diplomatic push underscores a clear message from Europe: Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable.
