**US-Russia Summit: A Meeting with No Ukrainians in Sight**
The highly anticipated summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin is just around the corner. The meeting, scheduled to take place on Friday in Alaska, aims to discuss a possible end to the war in Ukraine. However, there’s one significant absence – no representatives from Ukraine or Europe have been invited.
This has sparked anxiety among European leaders, who fear that territorial concessions will be discussed at the summit. They’re worried that Ukraine’s borders might be redrawn through force, which would have far-reaching consequences for the continent.
**Ukraine Not Invited to the Talks**
President Zelensky of Ukraine has made it clear that he won’t agree to any land being given up or even freezing the conflict along current front lines. His argument is that such concessions wouldn’t slow down Russia’s war machine, but rather speed it up. This stance has been echoed by European leaders, who believe that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.
**A One-on-One Meeting with Putin**
The summit will take place in a one-on-one format, which has raised concerns among Europeans. They feel that this format gives Putin an upper hand in negotiations, making it easier for him to push through his demands without proper scrutiny.
European leaders are calling for an unconditional ceasefire before any deal is made and new sanctions on Moscow. However, they’ve been unable to get themselves invited to the talks, despite their significant interest in the outcome.
**A European Scramble**
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, hosted a virtual meeting of foreign ministers last Monday, where they urged for an unconditional ceasefire before any deal is made. New sanctions on Moscow were also announced during this meeting.
In a separate development, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has secured a remote sit-down between European leaders and Donald Trump, which will take place on Wednesday. They hope to be consulted on America’s plan to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
**What Success Looks Like**
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, asked the question that many Europeans are also wondering – what success looks like for the US in this meeting? She believes that if President Zelensky is at the Alaskan table, it would be a clear success. However, without him, the outcome is uncertain.
As Lord Simon McDonald, a former head of the UK Foreign Office, warned, “Brace yourselves for some pretty outrageous Russian demands.” He added that Putin will ask for things that nobody else would concede, and only President Trump might agree to them.
**The Meeting May Not Lead to Anything**
Lord McDonald also believes that the meeting may not lead to anything concrete. He said, “The end will be as protracted as the war has been long. The meeting is a milestone, but it doesn’t actually mean it will lead anywhere.”
As the summit approaches, Europeans are holding their breath, hoping for a positive outcome and an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine.
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