British officials have cautioned European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, to stop making public demands regarding upcoming peace talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. UK officials fear that this public “running commentary” could “annoy” Trump and lead him to exclude Europe from the discussions entirely.
The private meeting, set to take place in Alaska, will see Trump and Putin discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine. The UK’s strategy, in contrast to that of many EU leaders, has been to influence the US from behind the scenes rather than through public statements. Downing Street officials believe that private diplomacy is a more effective way to sway Trump’s position. While EU figures have publicly called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be included in the talks, a White House spokesperson described the summit as a “listening exercise” for Trump, with the goal of better understanding how to end the war.
Zelensky, however, has rejected any Russian proposal that would require Ukraine to cede the Donbas region, stating that this would compromise the country’s defensive lines.