Worried about being sidelined at an upcoming summit meeting between President Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, European and Ukrainian leaders quickly assembled on Saturday outside London with top American officials to both understand Mr. Putin’s position and to ensure Mr. Trump understands what is at stake.
The meeting was co-hosted by Foreign Secretary David Lammy of Britain and Vice President JD Vance, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced. It 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 are trying to get firsthand information about what Mr. Putin discussed with Mr. Witkoff about a resolution to Russia’s war with Ukraine.
As the Europeans understand Mr. Putin’s proposal, he is demanding Russian control over the entire Donbas region of Ukraine, including both Luhansk and Donetsk Provinces, and including areas that Russia does not currently control. In return, he would agree to a cease-fire that would freeze the current battle lines elsewhere, including around Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian troops also control some territory.
The Ukrainians want a cease-fire first, and then will be prepared to discuss territorial compromises. But Ukraine is not prepared to hand over territory Russia does not currently occupy, as President Volodymyr Zelensky made clear on Saturday, and rejects any permanent loss of sovereign Ukrainian territory under international law.
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