Ukraine should have freedom to decide its future: EU leaders

Ukrainians must have the freedom to decide their own future, European Union member states said on Tuesday, weighing in ahead of talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Viadimir Putin on Friday.

- 

European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky plan to speak with Trump on Wednesday, before the summit in Alaska, amid fears that Washington, hitherto Ukraine's leading arms supplier, may dictate unfavourable peace terms to Kyiv.

“Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities,” the leaders of all EU countries except Hungary said in a joint statement, adding: “We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests.”

Trump has said any peace deal would involve “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both” Russia and Ukraine, prompting consternation in Kyiv and European capitals as virtually all the territory in question is Ukrainian.

Ukraine's authoritative DeepState war map showed that Russia had suddenly surged north by as much as IOkm in two prongs near Dobropillia, close to their key target of Pokrovsk, in their drive to take full control of the Donetsk region.