European leaders have said that “intensive work” on a US-led plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine will continue in the coming days, after a joint phone call with President Donald Trump.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said they “agreed that this was a critical moment, for Ukraine, its people and for shared security across the Euro-Atlantic region.”
Trump later said that “we talked about Ukraine in pretty strong words,” admitting that there were “some little disputes about people.”
The joint call comes a day after Trump called European leaders “weak,” suggesting the United States could reduce support for Ukraine.
In the wide-ranging Politico interview published Tuesday, Trump also claimed that Ukraine was “using war” to prevent holding elections, prompting President Volodymyr Zelensky to respond that he was “ready” for them.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
The three European leaders issued identical statements shortly after their call with Trump on Wednesday.
They say: “The leaders discussed the latest on the ongoing US-led peace talks, thanking them for their efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and see an end to the killings.
“Intensive work on the peace plan continues and will continue in the coming days.”
The call lasted about 45 minutes and was initiated by the Americans last night.
Sources characterize progress as “inching toward an agreement,” but emphasize the complexity of reaching one.
A key point remains Ukrainian territory and whether it is viable or reasonable to expect kyiv to effectively give up lands considered its own.
The long-standing formulation of the British government is that decisions about Ukraine should be made by Ukraine.
This is an argument that European governments are making to Washington, as they publicly and privately praise Trump’s commitment to ending the war.
National security advisers from across Europe, including the United Kingdom’s Jonathan Powell, meet regularly with Ukrainian officials. Allies share summaries of those conversations and others with Washington.
It is expected that if a potential deal were reached, the United States would lead a conversation with Moscow.
At a White House briefing later Wednesday, Trump admitted that “strong language” was used during the phone call.
He said he had yet to decide whether he would agree to European proposals for more meetings this weekend between Washington and kyiv.
“We don’t want to waste time,” the US president said.
He also called on Zelensky to be “realistic” and said Ukrainians “want a deal…they want to see it.” [the war] end”.
Earlier on Wednesday, Zelensky wrote on social media that a 20-point document on how to end the war would be delivered to the United States in “the near future” after “our joint work with President Trump’s team and his partners in Europe.”
The Ukrainian leader did not provide further details.
The original draft of the US peace plan, widely leaked to the media last month, had 28 points and was seen as favoring Russia. Ukraine has since held separate talks with American and European negotiators, seeking to change some key clauses, such as territorial issues and security guarantees.
Zelensky is under increasing pressure from Trump to agree to a peace deal to end the war, with the US president urging kyiv to “play ball” by ceding territory to Moscow.
Zelensky has repeatedly refused to do so, seeking instead an immediate ceasefire on the vast frontline and ironclad security guarantees for kyiv in any future deal.
The Ukrainian leader is on a diplomatic tour of Europe after intense talks between American and Ukrainian negotiators over the weekend failed to produce a deal kyiv could accept.
Zelensky has been pressing his European allies to help dissuade the United States from backing a deal that could leave Ukraine exposed to future attacks from Russia.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said Trump’s “very important” statements on Ukraine, including that Moscow would win the war and that kyiv would need to hand over land, align with Russia’s view.
“In many ways, on the issue of NATO membership, on the issue of territories, on the issue of how Ukraine is losing land, everything is in line with our understanding,” said Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Last week, Putin repeated his warning that Ukrainian troops must completely withdraw from the eastern Donbas region or Russia will take it over, rejecting any compromise on how to end the war.
In recent weeks, Russian troops have continued their slow advance in southeastern Ukraine, despite numerous reported combat casualties.
