European leaders have echoed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s stance, advocating for any peace talks concerning the war in Ukraine to begin with a halt at the current front lines. These leaders have also expressed skepticism about Russia’s commitment to peace.
A joint statement, signed by eleven European leaders including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, officially backed US President Donald Trump’s proposal. The statement noted their strong support for Trump’s position that “the fighting should stop immediately, and that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations.” However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking on Tuesday, rejected the concept of pausing the conflict along the current lines, suggesting that such a move would only result in a temporary ceasefire rather than a lasting peace.
Lavrov asserted that Moscow is solely interested in achieving “long-term, sustainable peace.” The European statement alluded to “Russia’s stalling tactics,” highlighting the persistent difficulties in reaching a resolution due to Moscow’s unyielding position. President Trump, who has frequently adopted a more conciliatory tone towards Russia, is reportedly planning direct discussions with President Putin in Hungary. While the date for a preliminary meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lavrov remains uncertain, Trump had previously spoken with Putin, a day before meeting with Zelensky and his team at the White House.
Reports suggest that during his discussions with Zelensky, Trump urged the Ukrainian leader to cede significant territory in the eastern Donbas region as part of a potential agreement with Russia. While Zelensky described the talks as “frank,” some reports indicated a heated exchange, or “shouting match.” Zelensky has consistently opposed territorial concessions, arguing that such moves could embolden Russia for future aggression. He reiterated his unchanged position, stating, “I explained during my visit to Washington last week that Ukraine’s position has not changed.” Currently, Ukraine maintains control over approximately a quarter of the Donetsk region, including the important cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, despite Russia’s occupation of most of Luhansk.
Trump himself has since denied pushing Zelensky to surrender the Donbas, instead endorsing the idea of a ceasefire along the current battle lines. He stated, “Let it be cut the way it is,” remarking that “78% of the land is already taken by Russia… I said: cut and stop at the battle line. Go home. Stop fighting, stop killing people.”
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has downplayed expectations for an immediate meeting between Putin and Trump. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented, “We cannot postpone what has not been finalised.” Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterated similar sentiments, emphasizing the need to address the “root causes of the conflict.” This typically refers to the Kremlin’s demands for Ukraine’s full withdrawal from eastern territories and demilitarization, terms that are unacceptable to Kyiv and its European allies.
A potential meeting between Trump and Putin in Hungary would necessitate an EU country allowing Putin’s plane access to its airspace. Given Putin’s international arrest warrant for war crimes, countries like Poland and Lithuania have indicated they would enforce it. Bulgaria, however, through its Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev, has hinted at a willingness to permit passage. Georgiev stated, “When efforts are made for peace, it is only logical that all sides contribute to making such a meeting possible.”
Trump and Putin last met in August in Alaska, in a summit that produced few concrete outcomes but did signal an end to Putin’s international isolation. Following that meeting, Trump had proposed a direct summit between Putin and Zelensky, but Russia’s condition that the “root causes” of the war must be addressed first led to the idea being shelved.