European leaders press Trump to include Ukraine in Putin summit

Europe's leaders have increased the pressure on Donald Trump to involve Ukraine in a planned summit with Vladimir Putin, as Germany warned the White House against any deal hatched "over the heads of Europeans and Ukrainians".

- Angela Giuffrida

Speaking before a bilateral meeting expected to take place between the US and Russian leaders on Friday in Alaska, Friedrich Merz said he "hoped and assumed" that the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, would also be involved.

The German chancellor told the broadcaster ARD that Berlin was working closely with Washington to try to ensure Zelenskyy's attendance. "We cannot accept in any case that territorial questions are discussed or even decided between Russia and America over the heads of Europeans and Ukrainians," he said. "I assume that the American government sees it the same way."

The Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, said Friday's summit would "be about testing Putin, how serious he is on bringing this terrible war to an end". He added: "It will be, of course, about security guarantees, but also about the absolute need to acknowledge that Ukraine decides on its own future, that Ukraine has to be a sovereign nation, deciding on its own geopolitical future."

As she announced an emergency meeting of EU ministers for today, Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, echoed that sentiment.

"President Trump is right that Russia has to end its war against Ukraine. The US has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously. Any deal between the US and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraine's and the whole of Europe's security," Kallas said.