European Leaders Urge Trump to Support Ukraine in Alaska Summit with Putin

European leaders, desperate to get President Trump's ear one last time before he meets with Vladimir Putin, held a virtual summit with Trump on Wednesday, before his meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday. During the call, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Trump seemed to support an unconditional ceasefire and that Ukraine must have a seat at the table in future negotiations. The Europeans also emphasized the importance of Russia agreeing to a ceasefire before peace talks begin and Russia facing fresh sanctions if it does not comply.

Key Takeaways:

• The virtual summit between European leaders and Trump resulted in five common principles being agreed upon, including Ukraine having a seat at the table in future negotiations and Russia agreeing to a ceasefire before peace talks begin.
• Trump seemed to support an unconditional ceasefire during the call, but later stated that the issue of Ukrainian territory is not for him to negotiate.
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Ukraine must be at the table for the next meeting and that legal recognition of Ukrainian territory is "not up for discussion."
• Trump announced that a follow-up meeting between Putin and Zelensky could happen "almost immediately" after the summit if it goes well.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the Russian leader was bluffing about the effect of sanctions, which are hitting Russia's war economy hard.
• A European official familiar with the call said that they got the impression the "threat is on" of secondary sanctions against Russia if the upcoming Alaska talks prove fruitless.
• Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said that Zelensky is urging Trump to use the "stick" he wields over Russia, either through more economic sanctions or military support to Ukraine.

Statistics:

• Trump gave Putin a deadline of August 8 to agree to a ceasefire or face punishing new sanctions on its "shadow fleet," which has enabled Moscow to circumvent sanctions on its oil exports and finance its war.
• The exact details of Putin's plan, which was proposed during a meeting in Moscow last week, have been shrouded in confusion since reports of it first emerged.
• The US officials stated that Putin's plan would require Ukraine to cede the eastern Donbas region in exchange for a ceasefire.
• Trump announced that a 25% additional tariff on India for buying Russian oil is expected to go into effect in the weeks ahead, stating that the "India sanctions had an effect" on Russia's war economy.
• Alexander Gabuev stated that Putin is confident that he has another 12 to 18 months to reach a deal with Ukraine, while Ukraine is facing its own pressures with its front line becoming increasingly porous.

Sources:

• CNN
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
• Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
• European officials familiar with the call
• US officials