Worried about being sidelined at an upcoming summit meeting between President Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, European and Ukrainian leaders gathered on Saturday outside London with top American officials both to understand Mr. Putin’s position and to ensure that Mr. Trump understands what is at stake.
At the meeting, the Europeans showed their solidarity with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and tried to make clear their view that Mr. Trump should take their joint perspectives into account, two European officials who were briefed on the meeting said on the condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations.
The Europeans, as they have done regularly, supported Ukraine’s positions, insisting that a cease-fire must precede talks on any territorial changes, that Ukraine will not hand over territory to Russia that Moscow does not occupy and that any deal would have to be accompanied by security guarantees, including from the United States, the European officials said.
They also insisted that no deal can be made by Washington and Moscow over the heads of the Ukrainians or the Europeans, whom Mr. Trump says must be responsible for the post-settlement security of Ukraine. And they insisted, as they have always done, that NATO will not shut the door to Ukrainian membership, even if that is not practical now.
The meeting, hosted by the British foreign secretary, David Lammy, and Vice President JD Vance, included senior officials from Ukraine and Europe. Mr. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, who met with Mr. Putin last week, was scheduled to dial in virtually.
The Europeans were focused first on trying to learn exactly what Mr. Putin discussed with Mr. Witkoff about a resolution to end Russia’s war with Ukraine.
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