European Leaders Hold Call with Trump as Ukraine Peace Talks Reach Critical Phase

The heads of government from Britain, France, and Germany held a call on Wednesday with U.S. President Donald Trump to review Washington’s latest push to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, describing the current stage as a “critical moment” for achieving peace.

While the White House is urging Kyiv to move quickly toward an agreement, Ukrainian officials continue to resist a U.S.-supported proposal introduced last month that many observers view as giving significant concessions to Moscow.

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking after arriving late to a public event in western France, said he had just finished a 40-minute conversation with Trump and his European counterparts about how best to advance an issue “that concerns all of us.”Statements released by the three European nations said the leaders welcomed the U.S. administration’s efforts to help secure a durable and meaningful peace in Ukraine, nearly four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

According to the British summary, the leaders agreed that “this is a critical moment for Ukraine, for its people, and for the shared security of the Euro-Atlantic region.”

U.S. Pressure on Kyiv Increasing as Peace Talks Continue

European governments, the United States, and Ukraine have been working intensely in recent weeks to adjust the original American plan, which called for Kyiv to relinquish large areas of territory to Russia, forgo its bid to join NATO, and accept restrictions on its military strength.

A central focus for the European partners is determining what security guarantees Ukraine might receive if a peace deal is reached.

The joint statements emphasised that “intensive work on the peace plan is ongoing and will continue in the coming days.”

Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London on Monday, reaffirming their support for Ukraine amid growing concerns that Kyiv could be pushed into accepting major Russian demands.

Leaders from the broader group of nations backing Ukraine, often referred to as the “Coalition of the Willing,” are scheduled to hold a follow-up meeting by video on Thursday, with Zelensky expected to participate.

In addition, Macron and Starmer are set to join Merz for further discussions next Monday in Berlin, according to two European Union diplomats.