European leaders rally behind Ukraine as White House open to inviting Zelenskyy to Trump-Putin meeting

Source: CBS News/AP

Updated on: August 10, 2025 / 8:49 AM EDT


A coalition of European nations rallied behind Ukraine on Saturday, saying the Russia-Ukraine war can't be resolved without Kyiv, ahead of a planned meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that currently isn't set to include Ukraine's leader.

The statement, signed by the president of the European Union and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland and the United Kingdom, stated that the "path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine." The group stressed the need for a "just and lasting peace" for Kyiv, including "robust and credible" security guarantees. "Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities," the statement said.

The statement by top European leaders — who also said they "welcome President Trump's work to stop the killing in Ukraine — came after Mr. Trump announced he would meet with Putin one-on-one in Alaska on Friday, Aug. 15, following weeks of U.S. pressure on Russia to cut a ceasefire deal. It's the first face-to-face meeting between Putin and an American leader since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in early 2022.

Two sources told CBS News Saturday that Mr. Trump is still willing to meet jointly with Zelenskyy and Putin — but the meeting currently remains bilateral, as Putin requested.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/european-leaders-ukraine-white-house-zelenskyy-trump-putin-summit/