EU backs Ukraine's right to make its own calls in talks with Russia

Representatives of Britain, Europe, Ukraine, and the United States will meet in London today to coordinate positions before the summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on peace in Ukraine.

Podestà said that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been in contact with EU leaders in preparation for today's meeting in the UK. She will also maintain constant contact with them after the meeting.

Arianna Podestà also made a statement on Ukraine's sovereign decisions in talks, saying the EU continues to support peace talks to end Russia's aggressive war, with the participation of Ukraine, during which Ukraine can make independent sovereign decisions, which the EU will support.

Backstory

Trump announced earlier that he would meet with Putin on August 15 in Alaska. They will talk, among other things, about the war in Ukraine.

Trump also admitted that a territory swap was possible between Ukraine and Russia.

The WSJ reported that Putin would allegedly agree to a complete ceasefire if Ukraine withdrew its troops from the Donetsk region. He allegedly made this statement at a meeting with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff.

According to Bild, Witkoff misunderstood Putin, as he has not given up his intention to gain full control over the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.

The WSJ wrote today that Putin may issue an ultimatum on Ukraine at a meeting with Trump. It is about recognizing the occupied territories in exchange for the withdrawal of Russian troops from other areas.

One of the officials said that Ukraine and other European governments are likely to reject this plan. This, in turn, could play into Putin's hands, as Trump could accuse Ukraine of prolonging the war.

Putin put forward the idea of the meeting to continue pressuring Trump, not to achieve peace.