Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Next article
European leaders met virtually with Zelensky and Merz ahead of Trump’s summit with Putin on Friday
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Donald Trump has threatened Vladimir Putin with “severe consequences” if the Russian leader does not agree to a ceasefire after crunch talks in Alaska this week.
The US president did not say what these would be, but has previously threatened Moscow with harsh sanctions if it did not agree to a truce in Ukraine.
It comes after Volodymyr Zelensky said Mr Trump told European leaders he supports a ceasefire and the idea of security guarantees for Ukraine and discussed America’s willingness to “take part” in this.
The Ukrainian president was speaking after a virtual meeting with Mr Trump and other European leaders, as Kyiv presses its case on the US president ahead of the landmark meeting on Friday.
“All the partners demonstrated one voice, one desire, and one principle. The same principle and the same vision. This is an important step forward,” he added.
Zelensky said Putin has demanded Ukrainian forces withdraw from Donetsk, but vowed Ukraine would “never leave” the Donbas and warned Putin’s troops could use it as a spring board for a future invasion.
US President Donald Trump at the last minute requested Maga-allied Polish President Karol Nawrocki join the Ukraine teleconference with European leaders on Wednesday, according to centrist Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Nawrocki’s bitter political rival who had been expected to attend.
Nawrocki, a conservative nationalist and eurosceptic, is an ally of Trump’s right-wing populist Maga political movement and visited the White House during Poland’s presidential election campaign this year. He defeated the candidate of Tusk’s pro-European, centrist party in June.
“Just before midnight yesterday we received information, alongside our European partners, that the American side would prefer that Poland was represented by the president in contacts with President Trump,” Tusk told a news conference.
The White House did not comment whether the US requested Nawrocki rather than Tusk take part in the call.
A Polish government spokesperson said on Tuesday that Tusk, a former head of the European Council of leaders, would attend the call with Trump.
Russian forces on the ground in Ukraine have been closing in on a key territorial grab around the city of Pokrovsk, in the eastern Donbas region that comprises Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland, which Putin has long coveted.
Military analysts using open-source information to monitor the battles have said Ukraine’s ability to fend off those advances could be critical.
Losing Pokrovsk would hand Russia an important victory ahead of the summit and could complicate Ukrainian supply lines to the Donetsk region, where the Kremlin has focused the bulk of military efforts.
In a post on social media, German chancellor Friedrich Merz shared a photo of him and Volodymyr Zelensky discussing the upcoming Alaska meeting with European counterparts.
Leaders of the US, Ukraine and Europe discussed possible locations for a follow-up meeting between US president Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.
Mr Trump said on Wednesday there was a “very good chance” of Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky meeting after his crunch summit with the Russian leader in Alaska on Friday
Possible locations include cities in Europe and the Middle East, according to sources close to the matter.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have welcomed Donald Trump’s efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine, end Russia’s war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace.
A joint statement from the European leaders said: “First, meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or a lasting and significant cessation of hostilities.
“Second, sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia’s war economy should be strengthened if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire in Alaska.
“Third, international borders must not be changed by force.
“Fourth, Ukraine must have robust and credible security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The coalition of the willing is ready to play an active role, including through plans by those willing to deploy a reassurance force once hostilities have ceased. No limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or on its co-operation with third countries. Russia could not have a veto against Ukraine‘s pathway to EU and Nato.”
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in