European Leaders Urge Continued Pressure on Russia Amid Peace Discussions

European leaders have emphasized the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia and safeguarding the security interests of both Ukraine and Europe, especially in light of an upcoming meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. A joint statement from leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Britain, and Finland, along with the President of the European Commission, welcomed the meeting but underscored that any peace process in Ukraine must involve Ukrainian representation and should only proceed under conditions of a ceasefire or reduced hostilities. The leaders remarked that a successful approach requires active diplomacy, support for Ukraine, and sustained pressure on Russia to halt its illegal war. They further indicated that any resolution must protect not only Ukraine's sovereignty but also Europe's vital security interests, necessitating robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine's defense. In a related development, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance met with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and representatives from Ukraine and European allies at Chevening House, situated southeast of London, to discuss Trump's advocacy for peace. A European official stated that a counterproposal was presented by European representatives during the meeting, although they withheld specific details. The Wall Street Journal reported that European officials emphasized the necessity of a ceasefire to be established before any steps could be taken regarding territorial disputes, and insisted on reciprocity in any territory exchanges. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy firmly rejected any notion of ceding land as a condition for peace, responding to Trump’s suggestion of potential territory swaps. Zelenskyy asserted that Ukrainians would not reward Russia for its aggressive actions, further stating that they would not surrender their land to an occupier. He did, however, describe the Chevening meeting as constructive, acknowledging that all Ukraine’s arguments were taken into account. Zelenskyy stressed that the process towards peace must be jointly determined with Ukraine being a critical participant. French President Emmanuel Macron reinforced the importance of Ukraine's involvement in negotiations, declaring that Ukraine's future cannot be dictated without the input of Ukrainians who have fought valiantly for their freedom for over three years. Following discussions with Zelenskyy and various European leaders, he pointed out that Europe has an intrinsic stake in the resolution of the conflict. In the meantime, the violence in Ukraine continues unabated. On Saturday, a Russian drone strike on a minibus in Kherson claimed two lives and injured 16 others, according to regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin. Another drone strike resulted in two fatalities in the Zaporizhzhia region, as reported by regional governor Ivan Fedorov. Ukraine's air force claimed to have intercepted 16 out of 47 Russian drones launched overnight, with strikes reported across 15 different locations. Furthermore, they reported shooting down one of two missiles fired by Russia. Meanwhile, Russia's defense ministry emphasized that its air defenses had downed a significant number of Ukrainian drones during overnight hours and into Saturday. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2