EU Leaders Urge Trump to Defend Europe’s Security Interests in Putin Summit
European Union leaders have publicly urged US President Donald Trump to protect Ukraine’s territorial integrity during his high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin this Friday.
The appeal, made in a statement on Tuesday, comes amid European concerns that a peace deal could be outlined without their input and may involve Ukraine ceding land to Russia.
In their joint statement, the leaders said they “welcome the efforts of President Trump towards ending Russia’s war,” but stressed that any path to peace must respect international law and Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“A just and lasting peace that brings stability and security must respect… that international borders must not be changed by force,” the statement read. The appeal was endorsed by all EU leaders except for Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán.
Concerns Fueled by ‘Land Swapping’ Comments
The European plea is a direct response to recent comments from President Trump, who suggested that a peace settlement would involve “some land swapping going on.”
This position is firmly rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has stated that Ukraine will not commit to giving up territory to secure a ceasefire.
Russia currently holds parts of four Ukrainian regions.
The diplomatic maneuvering comes as the battlefield situation in Ukraine remains critical. Military analysts report that Russian forces are close to capturing the strategic city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, a victory that would hand Moscow significant leverage ahead of the summit.
In recent days, a Russian missile attack also struck a Ukrainian military training facility, causing multiple casualties.