European, Ukrainian leaders hold virtual conference with Trump
發佈日期: 2025-08-14 00:03
TVB News
European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have concluded what they say a "constructive" discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump on the Russia-Ukraine war via video calls.
Zelenskyy was welcomed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz upon arrival at the garden of the Chancellery in Berlin on Wednesday.
Merz's office said the conference call would discuss further options to exert pressure on Russia and preparation of possible peace negotiations and related issues of territorial claims and security.
It's scheduled two days ahead of Trump's planned summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska where European and Ukrainian leaders have been left out.
Zelenskyy and Merz first spoke with the leaders of Finland, France, Britain, Italy, Poland, the European Union and NATO, before engaging in a second round of talk with Trump and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. A call between the leaders of the "coalition of the willing" - countries ready to deploy troops to Ukraine to police any future peace agreement with Russia - would take place last.
The Ukrainian president earlier noted his government has had over 30 conversations with partners, and doubted whether Putin would negotiate in good faith.
French President Emmanuel Macron indicated there hasn't been serious talks about Ukraine-Russia territory swap. According to Macron, Trump said he wanted to obtain a cease fire in Ukraine during Friday's meeting with Putin, and noted Ukraine must be involved in talks about territorial issues in any ceasefire deal with Russia.
Merz said after the conference that "important decisions" could be made in Alaska, but "fundamental European and Ukrainian security interests must be protected."
