In a high-stakes diplomatic chess game 🏛️, European leaders scrambled this week to align priorities ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Friday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The goal? To ensure Ukraine’s voice isn’t sidelined in potential peace talks.
Behind Closed Doors: The European Playbook
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted a marathon meeting Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders from France, the UK, Italy, Poland, Finland, the EU, and NATO. The group later joined a virtual huddle with Trump and VP JD Vance—a move one insider called “Team Europe’s group project to avoid geopolitical drama.”
Red Lines & Ceasefire Hopes
French President Emmanuel Macron revealed Trump agreed that “territorial issues cannot be negotiated without Ukraine”—a key win for European unity. Trump, meanwhile, doubled down on seeking a ceasefire during his Alaska sit-down with Putin. But Zelenskyy fired a warning shot: “No security guarantees, no talks.” The Ukrainian leader stressed Russia shows “no sign” of ending the war without global pressure.
Diplomatic Mic Drop 🎤
Merz dubbed the talks “constructive,” highlighting Europe’s “clear and united message” to Washington. Yet with Ukraine refusing to withdraw troops from Donbas and Putin’s next move unclear, all eyes are now on Alaska—where frosty temperatures meet even chillier geopolitics ❄️.
