European leaders stress need to protect Ukrainian interests

European leaders welcomed on Saturday US President Donald J. Trump’s plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on ending the war in Ukraine, while stressing the need to keep pressure on Moscow and protect Ukrainian and European security interests.

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Mr. Trump plans to meet Mr. Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15, saying the parties, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, were close to a deal that could resolve the three-and-a-half-year conflict.

The US president is open to a trilateral summit with Mr. Putin and Mr, Zelensky, but for now the White House is planning a bilateral meeting as requested by Mr. Putin, a White House official said. Russian and Ukrainian officials could not immediately be reached for comment on the prospects of a trilateral meeting.

Details of the potential deal have yet to be announced, but Mr. Trump said it would involve “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both.” It could require Ukraine to surrender significant parts of its territory, an outcome Mr. Zelensky and his European allies say would only encourage Russian aggression.

US Vice-President JD Vance met British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and representatives of Ukraine and Europeanallies on Saturday at Chevening House, a countrymansion southeast of London, to discuss Mr. Trump's push for peace.

A joint statement from the French, Italian, German, Polish, British and Finnish leaders and the President of the European Commission welcomed Mr. Trump’s efforts, while stressing the need to maintain support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia.