European allies of Ukraine, including Britain, France, and Germany, have called for increased pressure on Russia.
European allies of Ukraine, including Britain, France, and Germany, have called for more pressure on Russia ahead of a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a joint statement, the group asserted that any path to peace in Ukraine must be decided with the full involvement of Kyiv, reiterating the principle that international borders cannot be changed by force.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has consistently ruled out ceding territory for peace, has been consulting with his European allies. As it stands, Zelensky has not been formally invited to the Friday talks in Alaska. However, the White House has stated that President Trump is open to the possibility of trilateral talks with both leaders.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia's southwestern Saratov region reportedly damaged an industrial facility, killing one person and causing a large fire. According to Russian news agencies, 121 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight.
In Kyiv, the sentiment that the war must end without rewarding Russia's aggression is widespread. This was echoed at a recent meeting of European and Ukrainian officials, where British Foreign Secretary K St Starmmer and other leaders issued a joint statement welcoming the U.S. talks but emphasizing that a successful outcome requires a combination of diplomacy, continued support for Ukraine, and pressure on Russia. The statement also confirmed their commitment to upholding "substantive military and financial support to Ukraine."
Sergey Sanovich, a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, commented on the upcoming meeting, suggesting that President Trump and Putin are focused on their public image. He noted that Trump has significant leverage, including the offer of sanctions relief and the formal barring of Ukraine from NATO, but questioned whether he is willing to use it on Ukraine's behalf. Sanovich warned that any temporary pause in the war without strong security guarantees for Ukraine would simply give Russia a more favorable position to continue its aggressions
