Brussels/Kyiv/Washington, August 10 (HS): Europe’s leading powers have rallied behind Kyiv in a show of diplomatic solidarity, declaring unequivocally that no agreement to end the war in Ukraine can be reached without Ukraine’s direct participation. The joint position comes just days before U.S. President Donald Trump is due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska for high‑stakes talks on Friday.

In a rare unified statement, the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission warned that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.” They reaffirmed their backing for Kyiv — diplomatically, militarily, and financially — and underscored that “international borders must not be changed by force.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, long wary of any behind‑the‑scenes diplomacy between Washington and Moscow, warned that any arrangement reached without Ukraine would be “dead decisions” and a betrayal of peace. Responding sharply to Trump’s suggestion of “territorial swaps” as part of a settlement, Zelensky vowed, “We will not reward Russia for what it has perpetrated.” He accused Moscow of pushing proposals that would merely position its forces more advantageously for a future offensive.

While Trump has floated the possibility of a trilateral session involving himself, Putin, and Zelensky, Friday’s Alaska meeting — reportedly at Putin’s request — remains a bilateral encounter. The Kremlin has refused direct talks between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents since the full‑scale invasion began over three years ago.

Reports from U.S. media suggest the White House has entertained, at least in discussion, scenarios in which Russia retains control over the whole of the Donbas and Crimea — a notion flatly rejected by both Kyiv and its European partners. In contrast, Ukrainian negotiators have shared their own blueprint with Washington, stipulating that any territorial concessions must be reciprocal, requiring Russia to withdraw from other occupied areas in return.

European leaders are also deeply concerned about being sidelined from a process that could reshape the continent’s security architecture for decades. French President Emmanuel Macron warned on social media that Europe “will necessarily be part of the solution, as our own security is at stake.”

The Alaska summit — the first meeting between sitting U.S. and Russian presidents since 2021 — takes place against the backdrop of a grinding conflict. Russia retains control of swathes of eastern Ukraine, including parts of the four regions it illegally annexed in 2022, while Ukrainian counter‑offensives have yet to dislodge entrenched occupiers.

As Vice‑President JD Vance engaged in preparatory talks in London with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and two of Zelensky’s senior aides, Ukrainian officials stressed a central message: peace cannot be imposed from the outside. “A reliable, lasting peace is only possible with Ukraine at the negotiating table,” said Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff. “A ceasefire is necessary — but the frontline is not a border.”

With a potentially decisive diplomatic moment approaching, Ukraine and its allies are resolved to ensure the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non‑negotiable foundations for any future accord.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar