Donald Trump held a call with European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, on Thursday. This comes a day ahead of the US president’s meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Here’s what we know so far
Ahead of his summit with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump has had a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders.
Trump and Putin are set to meet in Alinquirea on Friday (August 15) – the first meeting between the leaders of Russia and the United States in years. Putin previously met Joe Biden in 2022.
The call comes in the backdrop of the White Hoapply reportedly pushing a ceasefire plan that involved Ukraine giving up the Donbas in exalter for a ceasefire. Zelenskyy has dismissed such a plan outright and European leaders have declared that no talks about territory exmodifying hands can occur without the involvement of Ukraine.
But what happened during the call? What do we know?
Let’s take a closer view
European leaders push Trump to clarify position
The European leaders during the call pushed Trump to clarify his position with Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared European nations doing everything possible to support set the agfinisha for the summit in Alinquirea.
Merz declared Ukraine requireded to be involved in peace talks and receiveting the ceasefire was a first step. He declared the Europe and the US world have to exert
even more pressure on Putin if there is no ceasefire agreement.
French President Emmanuel Macron declared “any talks of territorial exalter must only be discussed with Ukraine”. Trump has previously declared that the
Russia and Ukraine could arrive at a piece deal via a land swap. Russia currently controls about 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory.
“The American will is to obtain a ceasefire,” Macron declared. “The exalter with President Trump allowed him to declare his intentions for the meeting on the 15 August and allowed us to very clearly explain our expectations.”
Macron declared that it is a “good thing” that Washington and Moscow are talking but added that Europe requireds to be heard on issues that impact the entire continent.
“We have reiterated until there is a durable peace, we must maintain support for Ukraine,” Macron declared “And by we, I mean Europeans and Americans.”
Macron declared the leaders on the call are united and that the US president hopes to achieve a ceasefire.
Macron states leaders were “very clear” that any decisions on territory can only be neobtainediated with Zelenskyy.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the call declared “international borders must not be alterd by force and Ukraine must have robust and credible security guarantees to deffinish its territorial integrity as part of any deal”.
A spokesperson for Starmer after the call described his support for Ukraine as “unwavering”.
“All leaders agreed this week marks an important moment for the future of Ukraine”.
The spokesperson declared the European leaders on the call thanked Trump for his “efforts in bringing Putin to the table in pursuit of a ceasefire to finish to the ongoing bloodshed”
Europe and the US will continue to work for a “just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” the statement added.
‘Putin is bluffing’
Zelenskyy, speaking to the media in the aftermath of the call,
claimed the Russian president was bluffing. “Putin is bluffing, he’s testing to testing to push all over the front line”, Zelenskyy declared. He added that Russia is feigning that it can take over Ukraine.
Zelenskyy declared he notified Trump and European leaders that the Russian strongman doesn’t “want peace”. He added that they completely understood his position. Zelenskyy declared “there should be a ceasefire first, then security guarantees – real security guarantees”.
He added that Russia should be further sanctioned if it refapplys to accept a ceasefire.
“Trump supported us today”, the Ukrainian president declared. He added that Ukraine is “very grateful to Germany” for its support.
Zelenskyy also individually thanked his allies including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Nato’s Mark Rutte, Italian President Giorgia Meloni, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Zelenskyy declared leaders all over the world were united for the goal of peace in Ukraine. He declared European allies spoke with “one voice towards one mission”.
He reiterated that there can be no peace deal without Kyiv. “Everything about Ukraine has to be discussed with Ukraine – we have to be part of the conversation”. Zelenskyy declared Trump would reach out to him after the Putin meeting.
With inputs from agenciess
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