A peace deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine cannot be agreed without Kyiv, European leaders declared.
Donald Trump confirmed Vladimir Putin will travel to Alaska on Friday, prompting fears the US could attempt to force Ukraine’s President Zelensky to give up territory in the east of the country.
And Prime Minister Keir Starmer, alongside the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland and the European Commission, said that the current line of contact between Russia and Ukraine could only be a “starting point of negotiations”.
President Zelensky said any agreement without Kyiv will amount to “dead decisions”.
European leaders, including Keir Starmer, said: “We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests.
“We agree that these vital interests include the need for robust and credible security guarantees that enable Ukraine to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities. 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. The current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations.
“We reiterate that Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, the Budapest Memorandum, and successive Russian commitments. We underline our unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
“We continue to stand firmly by the side of Ukraine. We are united as Europeans and determined to jointly promote our interests. And we will continue to cooperate closely with President Trump and with the United States of America, and with President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine, for a peace in Ukraine that protects our vital security interests.”
President Trump is willing to hold a trilateral meeting in Alaska with President Zelensky and Russian dictator Putin, White House officials have indicated.
It follows growing frustration from Trump over the lack of resolution in the three-year conflict, which he previously vowed to broker “within 24 hours” of taking office in January.
President Zelensky added following the statement from European leaders: “The end of the war must be fair, and I am grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine and our people today for the sake of peace in Ukraine, which is defending the vital security interests of our European nations.
“Ukraine values and fully supports the statement by President Macron, Prime Minister Meloni, Chancellor Merz, Prime Minister Tusk, Prime Minister Starmer, President Ursula von der Leyen, and President Stubb on peace for Ukraine.”
President Zelensky said Putin wanted to “exchange a pause in the war, in the killing, for the legalisation of the occupation of our land – he wants to get territorial spoils for the second time”.
Mr Zelensky added: “We will not allow this second attempt to partition Ukraine. Knowing Russia, where there is a second, there will be a third.”
He also said that any peace agreement that excluded Ukraine would be a decision “against peace”.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy hosted a meeting of top Ukrainian officials and European national security advisers alongside US vice-president JD Vance on Saturday.
The meeting took place at the Foreign Secretary’s official country retreat, Chevening, in Kent, where Mr Vance is staying at the start of a UK holiday.
After the meeting, Mr Lammy said: “The UK’s support for Ukraine remains ironclad as we continue working towards a just and lasting peace.”
It is understood that the meeting had been called at Washington’s request, and included representatives from the US, Ukraine, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and Poland as well as the UK.
Ukraine was represented by Rustem Umerov, secretary of the country’s national security and defence council, and the head of Mr Zelensky’s office, Andriy Yermak.
In a post on social media, Mr Yermak said the allies’ positions were “clear” that “a reliable, lasting peace is only possible with Ukraine at the negotiating table, with full respect for our sovereignty and without recognising the occupation”.
Next week will mark Putin’s first visit to the US since meeting Obama at a UN summit in New York in 2015.
It will also bring the first in-person talk between an American and Russian leader since Putin met Joe Biden in 2021.
Putin last sat with Trump in 2019 at a G20 summit in Japan during Trump’s first term. Since January, they have spoken by telephone several times.
