President Trump Will Attend A Virtual Meeting Of EU Leaders With President Zelensky Today

JAKARTA - White House officials said on Tuesday US President Donald Trump would attend a virtual meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other EU leaders on Wednesday, in preparation for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this Friday.

The official confirmed President Trump's participation in Wednesday's meeting on condition of anonymity, a day after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced he had invited US President Zelensky and other European officials.

German government spokesman Stefan televisi said Wednesday's virtual meeting would focus on "further options to suppress Russia" and "preparations for possible peace negotiations and questions related to territorial claims and security guarantees," quoted by the Daily Sabah Aug. 13.

The summit will feature various discussion formats with participation from heads of state and government including Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Poland, Britain and Ukraine. The President of the European Commission, the Head of the European Council, the Secretary-General of NATO and the Vice President of the US are also expected to join the negotiations.

As previously reported, Europe will again seek to garner President Trump's support for Ukraine's struggle on Wednesday in a virtual meeting organized by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

President Trump had previously not confirmed his participation in the meeting, but said: "I will listen to everyone's input" before meeting Putin.

EU leaders are united behind Ukraine, with a joint statement this week the bloc said the Ukrainian people must have the freedom to determine their future, and diplomatic solutions must protect the interests of Ukraine and Europe.

Only Hungary did not sign a joint statement agreed on Monday and published Tuesday.