European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on Sunday that the term “ceasefire” is less significant than the urgent need to end the killing.
She told reporters, “What truly matters is the impact. The main goal must be to halt the violence.”
She continued, “Thus, the important issue is not the terminology itself; rather, the content is what truly counts. It is crucial to hold a tripartite meeting as soon as possible among the leaders of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia.”
Meanwhile, European leaders, including those from Germany, France, and the UK, announced plans to accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington to show their support, especially as Trump pressures Ukraine to agree to a swift peace deal.
On the eve of discussions with Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host a meeting with Kyiv’s allies today to bolster Zelensky’s position, particularly seeking strong security guarantees for Ukraine that include a role for the U.S.
After meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska, Trump is pushing Zelensky to reach an agreement. Sources indicate that Trump and Putin discussed proposals where Moscow would relinquish small territories in Ukraine, while Kyiv would yield larger areas elsewhere.
Accepting some of Putin’s demands may prove challenging for Ukraine, potentially leading to difficult negotiations to end the most intense conflict in Europe in 80 years, which has resulted in over a million casualties.
European allies are eager to help Zelensky avoid a repeat of his previous White House meeting in February, which was disastrous and involved public reprimands from Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, accusing Zelensky of ingratitude and disrespect.
Von der Leyen, along with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, will also be traveling to Washington.
The German government stated that discussions in Washington will address, among other topics, security guarantees, regional issues, and the ongoing support for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
Additionally, they plan to maintain pressure regarding sanctions.
Macron, Merz, and Starmer are coordinating a virtual meeting for the so-called “Alliance of the Willing” – a coalition of Kyiv’s allies – at 13:00 GMT on Sunday.
The European powers aim to facilitate a trilateral meeting among Trump, Putin, and Zelensky to ensure Ukraine has a seat at the negotiating table to define its future.
They also seek robust security assurances for Ukraine involving the United States and the capability to escalate pressure on Moscow if necessary.
A European governmental official remarked, “They will clarify what they consider essential concerning security guarantees: what they can handle independently, what falls under a coalition of volunteers, and their expectations from the United States.”
The official added, “In reality, they anticipate a strong commitment.”
Putin has briefed his close ally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, on the discussions from Alaska and has spoken with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made phone calls yesterday to his Turkish and Hungarian counterparts.
Hungary has been one of the EU members opposing the bloc’s efforts to isolate Putin since his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Turkey continues to maintain diplomatic channels with both Ukraine and Russia.
Trump stated that Ukraine needs to reach an agreement to end the conflict with Moscow, emphasizing, “Russia is a very powerful force, while Ukraine is not.”
Following the Alaska summit with Putin, a source revealed that Trump contacted Zelensky, informing him that the Kremlin leader had suggested a freeze on most frontline operations if Kyiv completely ceded Donetsk, a key industrial region and a primary objective for Moscow.
The source noted that Zelensky rejected this request. Russia currently controls one-fifth of Ukraine, including approximately three-quarters of the Donetsk region, which it first entered in 2014.
Trump also stated that he agrees with Putin on the need to pursue a peace agreement without a prior ceasefire, which Ukraine and its European allies are advocating.
This marks a shift from his stance before the summit, where he expressed dissatisfaction unless a ceasefire could be agreed upon.
Zelensky pointed out that Russia’s reluctance to halt hostilities complicates efforts for a lasting peace. He wrote on social media, “Ending the killing is a fundamental element in concluding the war.”