**US President Trump to Meet European Leaders and Zelensky Before Summit with Putin**
In a significant diplomatic move, US President Donald Trump will hold talks with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 13. This meeting is scheduled just two days before Trump’s planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
The meetings come as Washington seeks to broker a potential resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The diplomatic push ahead of these talks has seen German Chancellor Friedrich Merz organize an online conference between Zelensky and key European leaders, set for 3 p.m. Kyiv time on August 13. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will participate in this call, alongside other EU leaders, President Zelensky, and President Trump.
Leaders from Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Poland are also expected to join the online meeting, along with a representative from NATO. This coordinated effort highlights the international community’s desire for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
The US proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been rejected by Russia, which instead seeks a deal involving land swaps. According to sources, Moscow wants Kyiv to withdraw its forces from partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in exchange for Russian forces withdrawing from limited areas in northeastern Ukraine. However, this proposal is highly contentious, and Zelensky has publicly rejected ceding territory to Russia.
The uncertainty surrounding Zelensky’s participation in the upcoming summit has raised concerns that Washington and Moscow could sideline Ukraine and its European partners from the peace process. Publicly, Putin has demanded a ban on Ukraine’s NATO membership and full Ukrainian withdrawal from several oblasts as a precondition for peace talks. In contrast, Zelensky has urged an unconditional ceasefire and rejected territorial concessions.
The upcoming summit marks a critical moment in international diplomacy, with the potential to shape the future of Ukraine and its relationship with Russia. As the world watches, one thing is clear: any resolution to this conflict must prioritize the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
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