Trump wants Ukraine to have say on territory talks with Russia, says France’s Macron

BERLIN – US President Donald Trump has said Ukraine must be involved in talks about territory in any ceasefire deal with Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Aug 13.

The comments were the first indication of what came out of talks between Mr Trump, Europe’s leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, intended to shape Mr Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Aug 15.

Mr Trump’s insistence on involving Ukraine, if confirmed, could bring a measure of relief to the country and its allies, who have feared that the US leader and Mr Putin could reach a deal that sells out Europe’s and Ukraine’s security interests and proposes to carve up its territory.

Mr Trump and Mr Putin are

due to meet in Alaska

on Aug 15 for talks on how to end the 3½-year-old conflict, the biggest in Europe since World War II.

The US President has said both sides

will have to swop land

to end fighting that has cost tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said there was an agreement that Ukraine would be part of any further talks with Russia.

“Ukraine must be at the table when follow-up meetings take place,” he said, adding that “a ceasefire must come first” before any peace negotiations.

On a day of intense diplomacy, Mr Zelensky flew to Berlin for German-hosted virtual meetings with European leaders and then with Mr Trump.

The Europeans worry that a land swop could leave Russia with almost a fifth of Ukraine and embolden Mr Putin to expand further west in the future.

Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte described the call with Mr Trump as “great”.

He said the US and Europe are “united in pushing to end this terrible war” in Ukraine.

“Appreciate Trump leadership and close coordination with allies. The ball is now in Putin’s court,” Mr Rutte said on social media platform X. REUTERS, AFP