Washington– U.S. President Donald Trump held a series of phone calls with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to brief them on his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
The high-stakes meeting between Trump and Putin on Friday lasted three hours and reportedly yielded progress toward a potential resolution of the war in Ukraine. However, no immediate ceasefire was announced.
Following the talks, President Trump described the meeting as a “great and very successful day” on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“The meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia went very well, as did a late-night phone call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and various European leaders, including the highly respected Secretary General of NATO,” Trump posted. “It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to pursue a comprehensive peace agreement — not just a ceasefire, which often fails to hold.”
Trump also announced that President Zelensky is scheduled to visit Washington on Monday for a meeting at the White House. “If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin,” he added. “Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved.”
European Leaders Support Peace Push
Leaders from across Europe welcomed Trump’s renewed diplomatic efforts. French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Portuguese President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were among those briefed by Trump.
In a joint statement issued after the call, the European leaders expressed support for a path to a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine and praised Trump’s commitment to ending Russia’s aggression.
“As President Trump said, ‘there’s no deal until there’s a deal.’ The next step must include further talks involving President Zelensky, whom President Trump will meet shortly,” the statement read. “We are also ready to support a potential trilateral summit involving Trump, Zelensky, and Putin, backed by European efforts.”
The leaders emphasized that Ukraine must be provided with strong and enforceable security guarantees to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“We welcome President Trump’s statement that the U.S. is prepared to offer such guarantees,” the statement continued. “The Coalition of the Willing is ready to play an active role. Ukraine’s military capabilities or partnerships with third countries must not be restricted. Russia cannot be allowed a veto over Ukraine’s future in the EU or NATO.”
Continued Pressure on Russia
The joint statement reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and maintaining pressure on Russia until a peace agreement is reached.
“As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we remain committed to upholding sanctions and increasing economic pressure on Russia’s war economy,” the leaders declared. “Ukraine can count on our unwavering solidarity as we work toward a peace that ensures both Ukraine’s and Europe’s security.”
President Trump’s outreach and potential facilitation of a broader peace dialogue marks a significant moment in international efforts to end the war, now entering its fourth year. (Source: IANS)
