EU Plans Consultations Before Trump-Putin Summit on Ukraine

European leaders consider Russia an existential threat and insist on consultations with US President Donald Trump before his scheduled meeting with Kremlin head Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska. The EU has officially confirmed an emergency meeting of its Foreign Affairs Council aimed at coordinating a strategy and ensuring any agreement includes Ukraine and the European Union. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity and highlighted concerns about the unpredictability of Trump's actions and some of Putin's territorial proposals. German government representatives stated that European partners will hold private discussions leading up to the summit to avoid jeopardizing negotiations. While Trump has expressed willingness to discuss a ceasefire and even a possible territory swap between Ukraine and Russia, European officials stress that decisions about Ukraine's fate must primarily rest with Ukraine itself. Overall, Europe seeks to align its position with the US before the summit to safeguard regional security and Ukraine's sovereignty.