Amid growing concerns, European leaders are set to meet for crisis talks after President Trump announced a meeting with Putin to discuss a peace deal involving significant territorial concessions from Ukraine. The proposed agreement has sparked skepticism among European leaders, with Ukraine firmly rejecting any land concessions.
EU Leaders Convene for Crisis Talks Following Trump's Invitation to Putin
EU Leaders Convene for Crisis Talks Following Trump's Invitation to Putin
Trump and Putin are scheduled to meet next Friday for peace negotiations. Indications suggest that Ukraine may have to cede territories. Concerns are mounting among European leaders who are gathering for a crisis meeting this weekend.
Trump is set to meet Putin for a physical meeting in Alaska on August 15, as announced by the American president late Friday night. The Kremlin has also confirmed the meeting. The last time they met was in 2019.
On Friday, Trump stated that a peace agreement is "very close."
Meanwhile, several news outlets, including Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal, have reported that the U.S. proposal involves significant territorial concessions for Ukraine.
European leaders are skeptical of the proposal, reports the Wall Street Journal, and a crisis meeting is planned for the weekend.
The American administration is now working feverishly to interpret reactions and persuade European leaders to accept the agreement, according to Politico.
Sources: What Was Said During the Meeting
As early as Wednesday, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met the Russian president in Moscow. Since then, there has been speculation about what was discussed during the negotiations and what type of agreement is on the table.
According to Axios, citing two sources, Putin has offered to end the war if Ukraine gives up the Crimean Peninsula and the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. In return, he is reportedly willing to withdraw from Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
Trump also indicates that the exchange of territory is part of the agreement.
"We are looking at it, but we are actually looking at getting some back and at certain exchanges. It is very complicated. There will be some territorial exchange to the benefit of both," he says.
Crisis Meetings This Weekend
Representatives from several European countries, Ukraine, and the U.S. plan to meet this weekend in the UK for a crisis meeting—before Trump's meeting with Putin next week. It is still unclear exactly when and where the meeting will take place.
Ukraine and several NATO countries are concerned that Trump will override them and ignore their demands in the negotiations, sources tell Axios. Ukrainian officials tell the newspaper that they are confused about the U.S. stance and the details of the Russian proposal.
At the same time, it is pointed out that according to Ukrainian law, Zelensky would need to call a referendum to cede territory.
Ukraine Dismisses the Plan
On Saturday morning, the Ukrainian president stated that Ukraine will not give up territories to achieve peace with Russia.
"Ukrainians will not give up their land to the occupying power," he says in a video on Telegram.
He further states that any decisions made without Ukrainian representation are meaningless and "stillborn."