BERLIN – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders have begun talks via video link with U.S. President Donald Trump about his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The online meeting was arranged at short notice by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with Zelensky personally joining him on Wednesday at the Chancellery in Berlin.
In addition to Trump, U.S. Vice President JD Vance was also expected to take part.
Earlier, Zelensky joined a preliminary video discussion just among European leaders.
Participants in the call with Trump include leaders from France, Britain, Italy, Poland and Finland, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and Zelensky himself.
Berlin said the aim of the talks was to ensure Kiev and its European partners are fully involved in the preparations for Trump’s Friday meeting with Putin in Alaska, which is focussed on the war in Ukraine.
European governments fear the Trump–Putin talks could lead to territorial concessions to Russia that Kiev has firmly rejected. (dpa/NAN)
