European Leaders, Zelensky, and Trump Discuss Ukraine Ahead of Putin Summit

Pre-Summit Diplomacy for Ukraine

• 🇪🇺 European leaders, including Germany's Chancellor and France's President, are holding a virtual meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky and US President Trump.
• 🎯 The primary goal is to establish Ukraine's "red lines" and Europe's boundaries ahead of Trump's summit with Putin in Alaska.
• ⚠️ Concerns were raised by the announcement of the Trump-Putin summit and Trump's vague comments about "territorial swaps," leading to a concerted effort by Ukraine's allies to prepare the ground.

Ukraine's Stance on Territory and Sovereignty

• 📌 President Zelensky has vowed not to abandon the remaining Ukrainian-controlled territory in the eastern Donbas region.
• 🚫 Ukrainian MP Alexey Goncharenko stated that Ukraine will never recognize occupied territories as Russian and will not accept limitations on its sovereignty, including choices about alliances.
• ⚖️ The potential for changing borders by force is seen as a dangerous precedent that could lead to an unpredictable world where larger countries attack smaller ones.

Potential Outcomes and Peace Prospects

• 🤝 While 69% of Ukrainians favor ending the war through negotiations, there's an understanding that any ceasefire would be a time to prepare for a potential next war with Russia.
• 🕊️ Fears of Ukraine being betrayed at the weekend have somewhat receded, with expectations lowered for the Trump-Putin summit, potentially marking a step forward in a diplomatic process.
• 🛡️ The concept of a "coalition of the willing" for peacekeeping forces, driven by Britain and France, is being developed to ensure a ceasefire is real and to provide Ukraine with security guarantees.

Leadership and Domestic Politics

• 👤 Regarding President Zelensky's leadership, it's emphasized that who Ukraine's president is is solely the choice of the Ukrainian people, not a condition set by external parties.
• 🇺🇦 Due to the ongoing war, elections cannot be held, making President Zelensky the legitimate leader until hostilities end.