Hey, #GlobalNews squad! 🌍✨ European heavyweights got together on Wednesday to prep the game plan for Friday's big Alaska showdown between President Trump and President Putin. Think of it as the ultimate pre-match huddle before the world's most talked-about summit! 🤜🤛
Hosted by Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the room was buzzing with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, France's Emmanuel Macron, leaders from the UK, Italy, Poland, Finland, plus the heads of the EU and NATO. They even looped in Trump and VP JD Vance via video call to sync up across the pond. 📞💼
Main focus? Laying down the groundwork for a potential Ukraine peace process. Macron dropped a key line: you can't talk land swaps without Ukraine at the table. Trump's goal? A ceasefire – basically pressing pause on the fighting so things don't keep getting worse. ✋🔫
Zelenskyy was clear: negotiations should start only after the guns go silent, and Ukraine needs solid security promises. He stressed there's "no sign" Russia wants to end the war without ongoing international pressure, and Ukraine won't agree to pull back from Donbas unless it's safe. 🇺🇦🤝
Merz called the talks "constructive" and gave props for the "clear and united message" sent to the U.S. crew. Bottom line: Europe is flexing its diplomatic muscle to keep Ukraine's interests front and center as Trump heads to Alaska. 💪🗺️
Stay tuned for our coverage of the Trump-Putin meet-up, and let's see if this pre-game pep talk sets the stage for real peace moves. 👀✌️
Reference(s):
European leaders push Trump ahead of his Alaska summit with Putin
cgtn.com
