Europe Risks Sidelining as Trump, Putin Prepare Ukraine Summit

European leaders are expressing deep concern over the upcoming Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, fearing that Europe could be sidelined and that the talks may exclude Ukraine itself. Putin's demands reportedly include recognition of Russian control over Crimea and the entire Donbas region, while Ukraine insists on a ceasefire before any territorial discussions and rejects ceding territory it does not currently occupy. Trump has indicated territory swaps could occur "to the betterment of both," a stance that has provoked backlash from European allies and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who vows not to "gift their land to the occupier." European leaders, including those from France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Poland, and Finland, have emphasized that any peace agreement must involve Ukraine and respect current international borders. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close Kremlin ally, warned that Europe risks being sidelined in the peace process if excluded, calling for a separate Russian-European summit led by Macron and Merz rather than EU institutions. The situation highlights tensions between the U.S., Russia, and European nations over the future of Ukraine and the transatlantic alliance amid ongoing war and diplomatic uncertainty.