Zelenskyy, Trump and EU top leaders to hold three online talks — here's what we learned
Photo: Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy (collage by RBC-Ukraine)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will hold talks with European leaders and US President Donald Trump on August 13. Three separate online meetings are scheduled, according to Reuters.
Zelenskyy and European leaders will meet with Trump virtually ahead of his summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
According to a German government spokesperson, Trump’s videoconference with Zelenskyy and European leaders is expected today at noon GMT (3:00 p.m. Kyiv time). Leaders from Germany, Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, and the EU will take part, along with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
After that, Trump and US Vice President J.D. Vance will speak with European leaders in a separate online meeting scheduled for 1:00 p.m. GMT (4:00 p.m. Kyiv time).
Then, at 2:30 p.m. GMT (5:30 p.m. Kyiv time), there will be an online meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, which is working on plans to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
According to the outlet, half a dozen senior European officials have voiced concerns about the risk of an agreement that could be unfavorable for Europe and Ukraine’s security. They stressed that European unity would be vital if that happens.
"A source familiar with internal US deliberations said it could not be ruled out that Trump would seek a deal directly with Putin without involving Ukraine or Europe. But the source voiced doubt about that, saying it could cause problems with Kyiv and the EU," Reuters reports.
Trump–Putin meeting
Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska on August 15.
Earlier, the US president suggested that a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine might involve a territorial swap, while also promising that Ukraine would regain part of its territory.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected any territorial concessions, stressing that Ukraine will not give up its land to the occupiers.
It is also worth noting that on August 12, EU leaders adopted a joint statement ahead of the summit, emphasizing that there can be no path to peace without Ukraine.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán did not sign the document and instead called for an EU–Russia summit.
