**Ukraine Fears Trump-Putin Summit Will Dictate Terms**
As the world prepares for a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukraine is bracing itself for what it sees as a potentially catastrophic outcome. The meeting, scheduled to take place on August 15 in Alaska, has sparked concerns that the two leaders may try to dictate terms for ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine without involving Kyiv.
**European Leaders Rally Behind Ukraine**
In response to these fears, European leaders have rallied behind Ukraine, emphasizing the need for any diplomatic solution to protect the security interests of both Ukraine and Europe. The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission issued a joint statement on Saturday, saying that any deal between the US and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included.
**Zelenskiy Warns Against Sidelining Ukraine**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been vocal in his opposition to being sidelined in the peace process. He says that any decisions taken without Ukraine will be “stillborn” and unworkable. The Ukrainian leader has also stated that the end of the war must be fair, and he is grateful for the support of Europe and NATO.
**NATO Secretary General Weighs In**
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told ABC News that the summit will be an opportunity to test Putin’s commitment to ending the conflict. He emphasized the need for Russia to acknowledge Ukraine’s sovereignty and its right to decide its own future. Rutte also compared a potential peace deal to the situation after World War Two, where the US accepted de facto Soviet control over Baltic states without recognizing their annexation.
**Russia Accuses Europe of Interference**
The Kremlin has accused European leaders of trying to thwart Trump’s efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev described European interference as “necrophilia,” while Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called it a form of “spectatorism.”
**Territorial Swap Concerns**
There have been concerns about a potential territorial swap, which Trump alluded to as part of a deal. Russia has formally claimed four Ukrainian regions, including Crimea, and holds smaller pieces of territory in three other regions. A pro-Kremlin analyst suggested that a swap could entail Russia handing over 1,500 sq km to Ukraine and obtaining 7,000 sq km, but provided no evidence to back up these figures.
**European Official Counter-Proposal**
A European official has revealed that Europe has come up with a counter-proposal to Trump’s idea of a territorial swap, but declined to provide details. This move is seen as an attempt to keep Ukraine and Europe at the negotiating table.
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