rki.news

BERLIN, August 11 — U.S. President Donald Trump will join a high-stakes emergency virtual summit with key European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, in a coordinated effort to shape a united stance ahead of Trump’s scheduled talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska later this week.
The extraordinary meeting, convened by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, comes amid intensifying diplomatic maneuvering over the war in Ukraine. According to German officials, discussions will focus on securing an immediate ceasefire, safeguarding Ukraine’s territorial integrity, providing long-term security guarantees for Kyiv, and determining the sequence of any potential peace negotiations.
European leaders have underscored that no territorial concessions can be made without Ukraine’s full consent and that any agreements must ensure balanced outcomes backed by robust international guarantees. Chancellor Merz, who spoke with President Trump by phone on Sunday, has urged Washington to tighten sanctions on Russia’s banking system and to impose secondary sanctions on countries helping Moscow bypass restrictions.
“This is not a moment for backroom deals over the heads of Europeans or Ukrainians,” Merz told German media. “Putin only acts under pressure.”
The summit will begin at 2 p.m. German time, bringing together leaders from Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, Finland, Poland, the European Commission, the European Council, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and President Zelenskyy. Trump and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance will join for a dedicated session at 3 p.m., followed by a meeting of Ukraine’s core military supporters hosted by Germany, France, and the U.K.
Officials say the talks aim to present a unified transatlantic front and to send a clear signal to Moscow that aggression will be met with coordinated diplomatic, economic, and military resolve.