European leaders from ‘coalition of the prepared’ to carry convention name forward of Zelenskyy’s talks with Trump
Welcome again to our dwell protection of Russia’s conflict on Ukraine.
Whereas Washington prepares to welcome Volodymyr Zelenskyy for crunch talks with Donald Trump on Monday, European leaders who make up the so-called “coalition of the prepared”, a free partnership of western international locations pledging assist for Ukraine, are set to carry a convention name on Sunday to attempt to defend a peace deal that doesn’t reward Russia for its aggression.
The digital name is being co-chaired by the UK’s prime minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron (L), Germany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz (C) and the UK’s prime minister Keir Starmer pose as they meet on the sidelines of the Nato’s heads of state and authorities summit in The Hague on 24 June 2025. {Photograph}: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Photos
On the Alaska summit on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded Ukraine withdraw from Donetsk and Luhansk as a situation for ending the conflict, however supplied Trump a freeze alongside the remaining frontline, two sources with direct information of the talks advised the Guardian.
Trump reportedly backed the plan to cede unoccupied Ukrainian territory to Russia to safe an finish to the conflict, telling European leaders that he believed a peace deal might be negotiated if Zelenskyy agreed to surrender the Donbas area (which consists of Donetsk and Luhansk).
European leaders have repeatedly mentioned that Zelenskyy, who has been sidelined in a lot of the US-Russian diplomacy to this point, should play a higher position in future talks as a long-lasting peace can’t be achieved with out his enter.
In a press release launched on Saturday after the Alaska talks between Trump and Putin ended with none breakthrough, Starmer mentioned in a press release posted to X:
President Trump’s efforts have introduced us nearer than ever earlier than to ending Russia’s unlawful conflict in Ukraine. His management in pursuit of an finish to the killing ought to be recommended.
Whereas progress has been made, the subsequent steps have to be additional talks involving President Zelenskyy. The trail to peace in Ukraine can’t be determined with out him.
Stick with us as we can be conserving you updated with the newest political and army developments all through the day.
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Up to date at 04.05 EDT
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Russia ‘complicating’ efforts to finish to conflict, Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has mentioned Russia is complicating efforts to finish the conflict.
In a put up on X, he wrote:
We see that Russia rebuffs quite a few requires a ceasefire and has not but decided when it’ll cease the killing. This complicates the scenario.
In the event that they lack the desire to hold out a easy order to cease the strikes, it could take plenty of effort to get Russia to have the desire to implement far higher – peaceable coexistence with its neighbors for many years.
However collectively we’re working for peace and safety. Stopping the killing is a key factor of stopping the conflict. At present, coordination with companions has been ongoing all through the day …
We’re making ready for Monday’s assembly with President Trump, and I’m grateful for the invitation.
It’s important that everybody agrees there must be a dialog on the degree of leaders to make clear all the main points and decide which steps are obligatory and can work.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned he’s making ready for his assembly with Donald Trump on Monday. {Photograph}: Motion Press/ShutterstockShare
The Ukrainian army mentioned it had pushed Russian forces again by about 2km (1.2 miles) on a part of the Sumy entrance in northern Ukraine.
There was no instant remark from Russia, which controls a bit over 200 sq km within the area, in keeping with Ukraine’s battlefield mapping undertaking DeepState.
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US President Donald Trump mentioned after Friday’s assembly along with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, that he needs to bypass a ceasefire and transfer straight to a everlasting peace deal.
Ukrainian and European leaders worry {that a} straight-to-peace deal, skipping over a preliminary ceasefire, provides Moscow an higher hand in talks.
After calls with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump wrote on social media on Saturday that “it was decided by all that one of the best ways to finish the horrific conflict between Russia and Ukraine is to go on to a Peace Settlement, which might finish the conflict, and never a mere Ceasefire Settlement, which frequently instances don’t maintain up.”
With Russia and Ukraine far aside of their calls for, it’s not clear how simply that might be achieved.
We’re more likely to be issued with a joint assertion from the leaders of the “coalition of the prepared” on the decision later – it’s not clear if they may use the phrase ceasefire or undertake extra obscure language to align themselves extra with the brand new American place.
Donald Trump greets Vladimir Putin on the tarmac after they arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. {Photograph}: Kremlin/UPI/ShutterstockShare
Up to date at 04.45 EDT
Trump reportedly to again ceding of Ukrainian territory to Russia as a part of peace deal
Right here is a few extra element from the report from my colleagues Edward Helmore and Pjotr Sauer about Trump backing a plan to cede unoccupied Ukrainian territory to Russia to safe an finish to the conflict, with Putin demanding Ukraine withdraw from Donetsk and Luhansk as a situation for peace:
Though Luhansk is sort of totally below Russian management, Ukraine nonetheless holds key components of Donetsk, together with the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk and closely fortified positions whose defence has value tens of 1000’s of lives.
Putin advised Trump that in alternate for Donetsk and Luhansk, he would halt additional advances and freeze the frontline within the southern Ukrainian area of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, the place Russian forces occupy vital areas.
Trump’s assist for ceding Ukraine’s Donbas area (composed of the Luhansk and Donetsk areas), which is wealthy in mineral sources, together with coal and iron ore, to Russia comes as he voiced assist for shifting straight to a peace deal and never through a ceasefire, which, Trump mentioned in a social media put up on Saturday, “usually instances don’t maintain up.”
US assist for ceding the Donbas to Russia represents a breach with Ukraine and European allies that oppose such a deal.
As a part of a deal, the US is able to be a part of safety ensures for Ukraine, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, mentioned on Saturday. Trump has threatened financial penalties on international locations that purchase Russian oil if Moscow refuses a deal and flew US bombers over the Russian chief as he arrived in Alaska.
However Ukrainian and European leaders worry {that a} straight-to-peace deal, skipping over a preliminary ceasefire, provides Moscow an higher hand in talks.
A resident walks via his neighbourhood in Sloviansk, attacked a day earlier by Russian forces. {Photograph}: Pierre Crom/Getty ImagesShare
European leaders from ‘coalition of the prepared’ to carry convention name forward of Zelenskyy’s talks with Trump
Welcome again to our dwell protection of Russia’s conflict on Ukraine.
Whereas Washington prepares to welcome Volodymyr Zelenskyy for crunch talks with Donald Trump on Monday, European leaders who make up the so-called “coalition of the prepared”, a free partnership of western international locations pledging assist for Ukraine, are set to carry a convention name on Sunday to attempt to defend a peace deal that doesn’t reward Russia for its aggression.
The digital name is being co-chaired by the UK’s prime minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron (L), Germany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz (C) and the UK’s prime minister Keir Starmer pose as they meet on the sidelines of the Nato’s heads of state and authorities summit in The Hague on 24 June 2025. {Photograph}: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Photos
On the Alaska summit on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded Ukraine withdraw from Donetsk and Luhansk as a situation for ending the conflict, however supplied Trump a freeze alongside the remaining frontline, two sources with direct information of the talks advised the Guardian.
Trump reportedly backed the plan to cede unoccupied Ukrainian territory to Russia to safe an finish to the conflict, telling European leaders that he believed a peace deal might be negotiated if Zelenskyy agreed to surrender the Donbas area (which consists of Donetsk and Luhansk).
European leaders have repeatedly mentioned that Zelenskyy, who has been sidelined in a lot of the US-Russian diplomacy to this point, should play a higher position in future talks as a long-lasting peace can’t be achieved with out his enter.
In a press release launched on Saturday after the Alaska talks between Trump and Putin ended with none breakthrough, Starmer mentioned in a press release posted to X:
President Trump’s efforts have introduced us nearer than ever earlier than to ending Russia’s unlawful conflict in Ukraine. His management in pursuit of an finish to the killing ought to be recommended.
Whereas progress has been made, the subsequent steps have to be additional talks involving President Zelenskyy. The trail to peace in Ukraine can’t be determined with out him.
Stick with us as we can be conserving you updated with the newest political and army developments all through the day.
Share
Up to date at 04.05 EDT
