Key occasions
Confusion over the Alaska summit reveals Putin nonetheless calls the pictures – evaluation
Shaun Walker
The supply to thrash out a Ukrainian peace deal at a bilateral summit with Trump represents precisely the form of great-power deal-making Putin has at all times craved. It is going to be his first journey to the US since 2007, excluding visits to the UN.
Precisely how the Alaska summit will look remains to be unclear, with a very Trumpian sort of confusion and chaos accompanying its announcement. Kyiv, European capitals and even Trump’s personal workers have been attempting to grasp what precisely was agreed within the Kremlin.
As worrying for Kyiv because the deliberate format of the talks is the obvious Russian deal now on the desk. The plan, because it has been reported after filtering by the Trump administration after which to European capitals, is that the Ukrainian military ought to unilaterally withdraw from the elements of Donetsk and Luhansk it nonetheless controls, which might presumably embrace the fortified navy stronghold of Kramatorsk. In trade, the Kremlin would comply with freeze the traces elsewhere.
Zelenskyy’s public posture that Ukraine won’t ever cede land is true up to some extent. Kyiv is unlikely to resign authorized claims to its personal territory, however the Ukrainian elite and far of Ukrainian society is more and more prepared for a deal that might recognise Russian de facto management, maybe for a set time frame, in trade for ending the combating.
The primary downside with such a deal has at all times been what sort of ensures Ukraine would obtain that Russia wouldn’t merely use a ceasefire as time to regroup earlier than attacking once more. Transient discussions earlier this 12 months a couple of European peacekeeping pressure to police a ceasefire have been shortly scaled again to a “reassurance force” stationed removed from the frontlines. Ukrainians would due to this fact haven’t a lot to depend on however Putin’s phrase, which they’ve realized from expertise to not belief.
Over the previous few days, Zelenskyy and his crew have been rallying help amongst European leaders and attempting to place collectively an alternate, European plan. Sadly for Kyiv, earlier expertise suggests Trump is unwilling or unable to exert actual stress on Putin.
“If Putin and Trump reach an agreement directly, Europe will be faced with a fait accompli. Kyiv – even more so,” stated Roman Alekhin, a Russian struggle blogger, on Sunday.
It’s precisely that prospect Ukraine’s management shall be doing their utmost to stop within the days earlier than Friday’s summit.
Morning opening: Nothing about Ukraine with out Ukraine
Jakub Krupa
A gaggle of European leaders insisted over the weekend that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine” amid rising issues in regards to the US president Donald Trump’s plans to strike a take care of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, when the pair meets in Alaska on Friday.
A swiftly organized assertion signed by the leaders of Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the UK, and the European Union reiterated that “a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests.”
Talking to the German broadcaster ARD, German chancellor Friedrich Merz stated he hoped and assumed that Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, would even be concerned in Friday’s summit in Alaska and that he made representations to Trump on this problem.
“We cannot accept in any case that territorial questions are discussed or even decided between Russia and America over the heads of Europeans and Ukrainians,” he stated. “I assume that the American government sees it the same way.”
EU overseas ministers are assembly just about for an emergency assembly right this moment to debate the subsequent steps.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the help, saying on X: “The top of the struggle should be honest, and I’m grateful to everybody who stands with Ukraine and our individuals right this moment for the sake of peace in Ukraine, which is defending the important safety pursuits of our European nations.
However there are nonetheless no ensures as to what is going to occur subsequent and what concessions Trump could be keen to comply with, leaving Kyiv and most European capitals deeply uncomfortable forward of the summit on Friday, and they’re going to wish to use each minute to affect the US place.
Let’s see what the day brings.
Elsewhere, I shall be additionally keeping track of one other excessive heatwave in elements of Europe, with Spain and France amongst international locations anticipating to see temperatures near or above 40 levels Celsius as soon as once more.
I’ll carry you all the important thing updates right here.
It’s Monday, 11 August 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Reside.
Good morning.
