Britain Urges Restraint from EU Leaders on Ukraine Peace Talks

 

As President Trump and Vladimir Putin prepare for a one-on-one meeting in Alaska to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine, British officials are cautioning European leaders against making public demands. The UK believes that public commentary from figures like French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz could "annoy" Trump and potentially lead to Europe being sidelined from the peace talks.

According to a British official, the UK is opting for a more discreet approach, using private channels to influence discussions rather than public statements. This strategy is in contrast to some EU leaders, who have publicly called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be included in the talks. Both Merz and Macron have insisted that Ukraine's future cannot be decided without its involvement, a sentiment echoed by Estonia's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas.¹

The White House has downplayed expectations for the meeting, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt describing it as a "listening exercise" for President Trump. Trump has already rejected the idea of Zelenskyy attending, stating he will communicate any potential deal to European leaders and Ukraine after the summit.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has rejected Moscow's demand to hand over the Donbas region, arguing that such a move would leave Ukraine vulnerable to further Russian offensives.² This remains a key sticking point as the leaders prepare to meet. The differing approaches highlight a growing tension between the UK and some of its European allies on how best to engage with the US on the future of the conflict.