EU leaders urge Trump to defend Europe's safety pursuits at his upcoming summit with Putin

[ad_1] BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders appealed on Tuesday to U.S. President Donald Trump to defend their safety pursuits at a key summit along with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin later this week over the battle in Ukraine.

Putin seemed to be on the verge of constructing a key territorial seize forward of Friday’s summit, doubtlessly to make use of as leverage in any peace negotiations.

Considerations over the summit The Europeans are determined to exert some affect over the assembly from which they've been sidelined. It stays unclear whether or not even Ukraine will participate. Trump has mentioned that he needs to see whether or not Putin is severe about ending the war , now in its fourth yr.

However Trump has dissatisfied U.S. allies in Europe by saying that Ukraine must surrender some Russian-held territory. He additionally mentioned that Russia should settle for land swaps , though it stays unclear what Putin is likely to be anticipated to give up.

The Europeans and Ukraine are cautious that Putin, who has waged the most important land battle in Europe since 1945 and used Russia’s energy might to attempt to cow the EU, would possibly safe favorable concessions and set the outlines of a peace deal with out them.

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters within the James Brady Press Briefing Room on the White Home, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington, as Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth, left, and Lawyer Common Pam Bondi look on. (AP Photograph/Alex Brandon, File)

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The overarching concern for European nations is that Putin will set his sights on one among them subsequent if he wins in Ukraine.

In an announcement early on Tuesday, the leaders mentioned that they “welcome the efforts of President Trump in the direction of ending Russia’s battle of aggression towards Ukraine.” However, they underlined, “the trail to peace in Ukraine can't be determined with out Ukraine.”

“A simply and lasting peace that brings stability and safety should respect worldwide legislation, together with the ideas of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and that worldwide borders should not be modified by drive,” they mentioned.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected the concept that Ukraine should decide to giving up land to safe a ceasefire. Russia holds shaky management over 4 of the nation’s areas, two within the nation’s east and two within the south.

Zelenskyy on Monday thanked European leaders for his or her help and urged for extra diplomatic and financial strain on Moscow so long as “they proceed the battle and occupation.”

“We see that the Russian military isn't getting ready to finish the battle,” Zelenskyy posted on Telegram. “Quite the opposite, they're finishing up actions that point out preparations for brand new offensive operations. Underneath such circumstances, it is crucial that nothing threatens the unity of the world.”

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the chief of Zelenskyy’s workplace, mentioned something in need of Russia’s strategic defeat would imply that any ceasefire deal can be on Moscow’s phrases, erode worldwide legislation and ship a harmful sign to the world.

Putin’s final purpose is to “get rid of Ukraine as a sovereign state by dismantling its navy, overseas coverage and proper to self-determination,” Podolyak mentioned on Telegram.

Russia closes in on a serious metropolis In Ukraine, a Russian missile assault on a Ukrainian navy coaching facility left one soldier lifeless and 11 others wounded, the Ukrainian Floor Forces posted on Telegram. Troopers dashing to shelters have been hit with cluster munitions, in line with the Ukrainian Floor Forces.

In the meantime, Russia appeared near taking an vital metropolis within the Donetsk area, as its forces have been reported to be quickly infiltrating positions north of Pokrovsk.

Navy analysts utilizing open supply data to observe the battles say the subsequent 24-48 hours might be crucial. Dropping Pokrovsk would hand Russia an vital battlefield victory forward of the summit. It will additionally complicate Ukrainian provide traces to the Donetsk area, the place the Kremlin has centered the majority of its navy efforts.

“Lots will rely on availability, amount and high quality of Ukrainian reserves,” Pasi Paroinen, an analyst with the Finland-based Black Hen Group, wrote in a put up on X late Monday.

Ukraine’s navy mentioned its forces are keeping off Russian infantry models attempting to infiltrate their defensive positions within the Donetsk area. The area’s Ukrainian navy command posted on Fb Monday that enemy troopers penetrating Ukrainian traces to seize extra territory “face inevitable loss of life” however acknowledges that the scenario stays “troublesome, disagreeable and dynamic.”

Putin’s public rehabilitation On Monday, Trump repeated that “there’ll be some land swapping occurring.” He mentioned that this is able to contain “some unhealthy stuff for each” Ukraine and Russia. His seemingly public rehabilitation of Putin — a pariah in most of Europe — has unnerved Ukraine’s backers.

Trump was additionally crucial of Zelenskyy, noting that Ukraine’s chief had been in energy in the course of the battle and mentioned “nothing occurred” throughout that point. He contrasted that with Putin, who has wielded energy unchallenged in Russia for many years.

It’s unclear whether or not the Europeans have been unsettled by Trump mistakenly saying twice he can be touring to Russia on Friday to satisfy Putin. The summit is happening within the U.S. state of Alaska, which was colonized by Russia within the 18th century till Czar Alexander II bought it to the U.S. in a land deal in 1867.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, middle, attends a cupboard assembly on the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. (AP Photograph/Ebrahim Noroozi)

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The Europeans will make a recent try to rally Trump to Ukraine’s trigger on Wednesday at digital conferences convened by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Trump didn't affirm whether or not he would participate, however he did say: “I’m going to get all people’s concepts” earlier than assembly with Putin.

Tuesday’s assertion was additionally meant to be an indication of European unity. However Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who's Putin’s closest ally in Europe and has tried to block EU support for Ukraine, didn't endorse it. He was the one one of many bloc’s 27 leaders who refused to take action.

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Related Press writers Samya Kullab and Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv contributed to this report.

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