Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that the fate of the war in Ukraine concerns all of Europe, and therefore European countries must take an active part in the peace process. According to him, decisions regarding the cessation of the war must consider the positions of all European states, as Russia’s war against Ukraine is simultaneously a war against Europe itself.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“Everyone is united in understanding that Russia’s war against Ukraine is a war in Europe and against Europe. All decisions that will be made to end this war and to guarantee security genuinely concern all of Europe, not just one country. Therefore, the voice of Europe must influence the processes. We are coordinating with our European leaders regarding our discussions and meetings to align all positions, as well as regarding each of our interactions with other leaders to ensure that Europe’s positions are protected. We are planning some meetings on the continent,” he stated in an evening video address.
Meeting Formats and Key Political Negotiations
Zelensky reported that various negotiation formats are currently being actively discussed to achieve peace, including trilateral and bilateral meetings between state leaders. The President noted that the goal of these negotiations is to align positions and protect the interests of all of Europe in the peaceful resolution.
He also announced the organization of consultations between security advisors from Ukraine, European countries, and a representative from the United States to develop common diplomatic approaches to resolving the conflict. Zelensky emphasized the importance of maximum coordination of actions in diplomacy to effectively advance the peace process.
Diplomatic Initiatives and International Support
Throughout the day, Zelensky held talks with several European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. During these discussions, issues of coordinating joint efforts to achieve peace and ensure security on the continent were addressed.
On August 6, a meeting took place in Moscow between U.S. Special Representative Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The negotiations occurred on the eve of the expiration of the ultimatum from U.S. President Donald Trump, who demanded that Russia reach a ceasefire with Ukraine by August 8, or face 100% tariffs on imports of goods from Russia and its partners.
After this meeting, Donald Trump reported “significant progress,” although he noted that Witkoff’s conversation with Putin was not groundbreaking. He also stated that there is a high probability of a personal meeting with the presidents of Ukraine and Russia in the near future.
The Kremlin confirmed the possibility of negotiations between Trump and Putin occurring soon, and Russian representatives indicated that the issue of a trilateral meeting involving Zelensky was also raised during the meeting in Moscow, although no comments were provided on this matter.
For his part, Zelensky, after his conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to participate in negotiations in various formats.
It was noted that following the meeting of the U.S. president’s special envoy with Putin, Trump held phone talks with Zelensky and several European leaders, discussing the next steps toward peace.
According to analysts from the American Institute for the Study of War, the Kremlin has not abandoned its goals of subjugating Ukraine, and views the prolongation of the negotiation process as a way to buy time for further military actions and to gain concessions from Kyiv and the West.