Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Berlin today to participate in a high-level video conference with European leaders and US President Donald Trump.

The aim of the talks was to coordinate efforts to end the war in Ukraine ahead of Trump's planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, August 15.

The conversation focused on achieving an immediate ceasefire and ensuring that Ukraine's interests are protected in all negotiations.

Before the conversation, Trump praised European leaders as "great people who want to achieve a peace agreement" on his Truth Social platform.

French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that only Zelensky can negotiate agreements on Ukraine's territory, AFP reported.

"Territorial issues concerning Ukraine can and will be negotiated only by the Ukrainian president," Macron said, adding that no serious proposals for territory swaps are currently being discussed.

He also noted that Trump's priority is to ensure a ceasefire in Ukraine and expressed support for a possible future trilateral meeting between Trump, Zelensky, and Putin in a neutral European country acceptable to all participants.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed that Ukraine must participate in all follow-up negotiations after the summit in Alaska.

"First, a ceasefire must be achieved so that negotiations can take place in the right sequence," he said, adding that the negotiations must include solid guarantees for Kiev's security and be part of a joint transatlantic strategy.

He reiterated that Ukraine was ready to discuss territorial issues, but that legal recognition of Russia's occupation was not up for discussion and that borders could not be changed by force.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the unity between Europe and the US, writing on Twitter that "Europe and the US are united in their efforts to end this terrible war" and noting that "the ball is in Putin's court."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the discussion as a "very good conversation" with Trump and European leaders, stressing that the EU, the US, and NATO had strengthened their common position on Ukraine.

"We will continue to work closely together. No one wants peace more than we do, a fair and lasting peace," she wrote.

Zelensky, who will not attend the meeting in Alaska, called for an immediate ceasefire to be the central topic of the meeting and warned that if Russia refuses, sanctions must be imposed and strengthened. І BGNES