**Europe's Unity on Ukraine Peace Talks: Kyiv's Inclusion Essential**

The leaders reaffirm their commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty as Trump prepares for talks with Putin.

European allies have come together in a renewed show of support for Ukraine, emphasizing that any peace negotiations with Russia must include the Ukrainian government. This statement was issued amid Donald Trump's imminent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Leading voices from the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission proclaimed, "The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine."

President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concerns that Ukraine might be sidelined in peace discussions, cautioning that any agreements made without Kyiv would amount to "dead decisions." A White House representative noted that Trump is open to a trilateral discussion involving Zelensky, though currently, the focus appears to be solely on the talks between Trump and Putin, at the latter's request.

Trump has previously suggested that initial talks could center on discussions with Putin alone. However, he indicated potential interest in later involving Zelensky, although it remains uncertain whether Putin would accept this arrangement. To date, the two leaders have not met since the commencement of Russia's extensive invasion over three years ago.

In a recent statement, Trump floated the idea of "territorial swapping" as a potential method for achieving peace, a notion that Zelensky vehemently opposed. He stated via Telegram, "We will not reward Russia for what it has perpetrated," and emphasized that any decisions made independently of Ukraine contradict the pursuit of peace. Zelensky further criticized the Russian viewpoint which seeks to exchange Ukrainian territory as merely benefiting Russia's advance in the conflict.

As reported by CBS, the Biden Administration is allegedly attempting to persuade European allies to accommodate a deal allowing Russia to retain control over the Donbas region and Crimea. Conversely, Ukraine and its European partners have proposed a framework requiring reciprocity in land exchanges – if Ukraine relinquishes control of certain regions, a similar withdrawal must be made by Russia.

The collective statement from the European leaders underscored the importance of maintaining international borders and denouncements of territorial changes through force. They asserted, "Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny," expressing their ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine through diplomatic, military, and financial means.

The potential exclusion of European nations from the Alaska discussions raises concerns, with Macron echoing the necessity for European involvement due to their own security priorities. European nations, backed by military assistance to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia, have highlighted the critical nature of a "diplomatic solution" to ensure both Ukraine's safety and broader European stability.

On Saturday, US diplomatic efforts aimed at reinforcing alliances were spearheaded by Vice-President JD Vance during discussions in the UK with Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Zelensky's aides. Notably, Zelensky’s chief adviser, Andriy Yermak, asserted the importance of including Ukraine in any peace dialogue, highlighting that a "lasting peace is only attainable with Ukraine at the negotiating table."

The upcoming summit in Alaska marks a pivotal moment as it represents the first direct meeting between the sitting US and Russian presidents since President Biden and Putin's Geneva encounter. This meeting will occur under the shadow of ongoing conflicts, as Moscow maintains control over significant portions of Eastern Ukraine despite failing to gain decisive military progress.