European leaders have pushed for Ukraine to be included in talks between the US and Russia ahead of the meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

The two leaders will meet in Alaska on August 15 to try to resolve the three-year war, but Europe insists that Kiev and European forces must be part of any agreement to end the conflict.

EU foreign ministers will discuss the next steps ahead of the talks at a video conference on August 11, which will also be attended by their Ukrainian counterpart, AFP reported.

The idea of a meeting between the US and Russia without Zelensky has raised concerns that any agreement would require Kiev to cede significant territories, which the EU rejects.

"The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine," said a joint statement by the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the UK, and Finland, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling on Trump to put more pressure on Russia.

In a series of intense diplomatic efforts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with 13 of his counterparts in three days, including Kiev's main supporters—Germany, the United Kingdom, and France.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he hoped and assumed that Zelensky would attend the leaders' summit.

The leaders of the Scandinavian and Baltic countries—Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden—also said that no decisions should be made without Kiev's participation.

Negotiations to end the war can only take place during a ceasefire, they added in a joint statement.

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker was asked by CNN whether Zelensky could join US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on August 15.

"Yes, I definitely think it's possible. Of course, there can be no agreement that all participants do not agree with. And, of course, the priority is to end this war," he replied.

Whitaker said the decision would ultimately be up to Trump. | BGNES