In a critical diplomatic moment, European leaders are urgently appealing to U.S. President Donald Trump to assert their security interests ahead of his pivotal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin this Friday. With the war in Ukraine entering its fourth year, the stakes have never been higher, as fears mount that Putin could manipulate the negotiations, sidelining both Europe and Ukraine.

As tensions escalate, European leaders are desperate to ensure that Ukraine’s sovereignty is not sacrificed at the negotiating table. President Trump has suggested that Ukraine may need to concede Russian-held territories, a notion that has drawn sharp rebuke from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He vehemently rejects the idea of land concessions for peace, asserting that any resolution must involve Ukraine in a meaningful way.

Zelensky’s latest statements underscore a unified front among European nations, emphasizing that any peace deal must respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity. He warns that the Russian military is not preparing to retreat but instead is gearing up for further aggression. The message is clear: the international community must maintain pressure on Russia through sanctions and diplomatic strength.

As Trump prepares for this historic summit in Alaska, where for the first time in nearly a decade, Putin will set foot on U.S. soil, the absence of Ukrainian representation raises alarm. European leaders, including those from the UK, Germany, and France, express their determination for a diplomatic resolution that supports Ukraine while holding Russia accountable for its ongoing aggression.

The world watches closely as the clock ticks down to this high-stakes meeting. Will Trump stand firm against Putin’s ambitions, or will Ukraine and its allies be left to navigate the fallout alone? The outcome could reshape the geopolitical landscape, and the urgency for decisive action has never been more pronounced.