EU statement Rallying call for Ukraine to decide its own future before Trump holds Putin summit

European Union leaders made a rallying call to defend Ukraine's freedom to decide its own future in advance of their virtual summit with Donald Trump - convened to discuss US strategy before the president's talks with Vladimir Putin on Friday.

- Patrick Wintour

With the exception of Hungary, all EU leaders signed a joint statement, with Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, also calling for the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to attend the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska on Friday.

Trump says his meeting with Putin is a "feel-out" to gauge the Russian leader's willingness to compromise, but European leaders fear Trump will be lured into a joint declaration with Moscow that involves irretrievable concessions before substantive talks between Ukraine and Russia.

Putin may also use the meeting to advance a wider agenda of normalization of relations between the US and Russia, a development that would start to lock Trump into economic cooperation with Moscow rather than confrontation.

The EU leaders said: "Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities," adding: "We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests.

"A Ukraine capable of defending itself effectively is an integral part of any future security guarantees."