High-Level Virtual Talks Underway
The French presidential office has confirmed the start of a high-level online summit between U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and top European leaders. The meeting, held via video conference, comes just days before Trump’s scheduled summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Participants include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and other European heads of state.
Berlin Meeting Precedes Joint Session
Before joining the virtual summit, Zelensky met Chancellor Merz in Berlin for bilateral talks. The two leaders appeared together in photos and video released by Merz, who welcomed the Ukrainian president in both German and Ukrainian.
After their meeting, Zelensky and Merz joined other European leaders online to engage with Trump, with discussions expected to focus on Ukraine’s “red lines” and strategic priorities ahead of the U.S.-Russia talks.
Press Conferences Scheduled
According to official schedules, Zelensky and Merz will hold a joint press conference at 14:00 GMT (17:00 Kyiv time), followed by a separate briefing from European leaders after the virtual summit concludes. Macron has also been photographed participating from his Paris office.
Strategic Context
This meeting is widely seen as a final opportunity for Kyiv and its allies to coordinate positions with Washington before Trump’s direct engagement with Putin. Ukrainian officials have signaled they will use the summit to secure commitments on ceasefire conditions, territorial integrity, sanctions policy, and the return of abducted children and prisoners.
