Leaders present counterproposal and urge more pressure on Russia ahead of summit; Zelenskyy rejects idea of giving up land to end the war. What we know on day 1,264
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European leaders stressed the need to keep pressure on Moscow and protect Ukrainian and European security interests after Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin arranged to meet in Alaska next week. A joint statement from French, Italian, German, Polish, British and Finnish leaders and the president of the European commission welcomed the move but noted that the “path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine” and that negotiations could take place only in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities. It added: “only an approach that combines active diplomacy, support to Ukraine and pressure on the Russian Federation to end their illegal war can succeed”. They also said a resolution “must protect Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests”, including “the need for robust and credible security guarantees that enable Ukraine to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
US vice-president JD Vance met British foreign secretary David Lammy and representatives of Ukraine and European allies on Saturday at Chevening House, a country mansion south-east of London, to discuss Trump’s push for peace. A European official confirmed a counterproposal was put forward by European representatives at the Chevening meeting but declined to provide details. The Wall Street Journal said European officials had presented a counterproposal that included demands that a ceasefire must take place before any other steps are taken and that any territory exchange must be reciprocal, with firm security guarantees. “You can’t start a process by ceding territory in the middle of fighting,” it quoted one European negotiator as saying. The White House did not immediately respond when asked about the European counterproposals.
