US Vice President JD Vance and UK Foreign Secretary David Lamy hosted senior security officials near London to prepare for Trump and Putin’s peace talks in Alaska. The Saturday gathering at Chevening, the official residence of the UK Prime Minister, followed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Steamer said the meeting would serve as a vital forum for advancing discussions on peace in Ukraine amid ongoing Russian military aggression. Senior officials from the US, Ukraine, and Europe attended, aiming to coordinate positions ahead of Trump and Putin’s meeting in Alaska on 15 August.
President Zelensky reiterated Ukraine would not make territorial concessions, stressing the necessity of Ukrainian participation in an internationally brokered peace agreement. Trump has repeatedly suggested that ending the war could involve Ukraine ceding disputed regions, an approach rejected by Kyiv and European leaders.
On Friday, Trump said there will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, referencing years of bloody conflict. Russia continues demanding recognition of its sovereignty over occupied Ukrainian territories along with Ukrainian demilitarization and abandonment of NATO membership aspirations.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Ukraine’s fate could not be decided without the Ukrainians, emphasizing Europe’s stake in any security-related resolution. While Zelensky avoided directly criticizing Trump, his statements online highlighted Ukraine’s refusal to accept agreements excluding its direct involvement in negotiations.
Despite Trump’s recent deadline for a Russian ceasefire passing without sanctions, White House sources insist diplomacy options remain open before the summit. On the ground in Ukraine, civilians and soldiers alike expressed exhaustion from fighting but rejected a peace agreement forced without their consent.
