Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin on Wednesday for a virtual summit with European officials and US President Donald Trump. The meeting was organized by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as a precursor to the planned August 15 meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Leaders from various countries including Italy, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands also participated in the call. The discussions aimed to align European leaders with Trump before the upcoming summit with Putin. The discussions centered on the upcoming Alaska meeting and the need for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Trump held a press conference at the Kennedy Center in DC following the call, stating the discussion was “very friendly” and that there is a possibility of a second, more productive, meeting. He also mentioned potential talks between Putin, Zelenskyy, and himself in the future.
The coalition of willing, a group of 31 countries supporting Ukraine, issued a statement afterward, outlining key prerequisites for the Alaska talks. These include ceasefire, intensified sanctions if Russia refuses, no change in international borders by force, and strong security guarantees for Ukraine without blocking its EU or NATO membership.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/14/ukraine-eu-us-leaders-speak-ahead-of-trump-putin-meeting-key-takeaways?traffic_source=rss
