Global Leaders Coordinate Ahead of Trump-Putin Alaska Meeting

Ahead of the planned US-Russia summit in Alaska, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has convened a virtual meeting with global leaders including US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss strategies to pressure Russia and prepare for potential peace talks regarding Ukraine. Despite this, European and Ukrainian representatives were notably excluded from the Alaska summit, causing diplomatic tensions. European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, have emphasized that peace negotiations must include Ukraine and respect its territorial sovereignty, rejecting any forced changes to borders. Russian President Vladimir Putin has actively engaged with multiple world leaders, boasting about his upcoming meeting with Trump and exploring potential venues for trilateral talks involving Zelenskyy. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Putin demands the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas and Crimea be part of any ceasefire agreement, a proposal firmly rejected by Zelenskyy. The situation remains fluid as international diplomatic efforts continue to seek a resolution to the conflict, balancing active diplomacy, military support for Ukraine, and pressure on Russia.