Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Vladimir Putin, Paris, December 9, 2019 (PBS)

EA on BBC: From Putin to Washington — Trump the Wannabe Authoritarian

EA on International Outlets: Anticipating Trump-Putin Meeting on Russia’s Ukraine Invasion

UPDATE 1833 GMT:

Germany has pledged $500 million to purchase of US weapons which NATO members will then transfer to Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the announcement “underlines [Germany’s] commitment to help the Ukrainian people defend their freedom. I commend Germany for stepping up once again.”

After establishing the arrangement with Donald Trump, the Netherlands has committed around $500 million from the Netherlands, and there are contributions from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

UPDATE 1746 GMT:

Donald Trump has said of his conversation with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and nine European leaders, “We had a very good call….I would rate it at 10, you know, very, very friendly.”

He said he will call Zelensky and the Europeans after his Friday meeting with Vladimir Putin. He then rambled:

There’s a very good chance that we’re going to have a second meeting which will be more productive than the first, because the first is I’m going to find out where we are and what we’re doing….

I would like to do it almost immediately, And we’ll have a quick second meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky and myself, if they’d like to have me there, and that would be a meeting where maybe it could be absolutely worked out….

There may be no second meeting, because if I feel that it’s not appropriate to have it, because I didn’t get the answers that we have to have, then we’re not going to have a second meeting.

Asked if Russia will face consequences for not moving towards an agreement, Trump replied, “Yes, they will.” On what the retaliation might entail, he said, “There will be, I don’t have to say, there will be very severe consequences.”

Despite the warning, Trump was pessimistic that he could get Putin to stop targeting civilians in Ukraine.

I’ve had that conversation with him. I’ve had a lot of good conversations with him. Then I go home and I see that a rocket hit a nursing home, or a rocket hit an apartment building and people are laying dead in the street.

So I guess the answer to that is no, because I’ve had this conversation.

UPDATE 1739 GMT:

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is “deeply satisfied” with “the unity of purpose” in the call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, European colleagues, and Donald Trump, says her office.

The statement said “the discussion revealed a strong consensus” on the need of a ceasefire and on the determination to provide further support for Ukraine.

“Now is the time to see what Russia’s attitude will be in Alaska, as it has so far failed to take any significant steps forward,” it concluded.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, “I know — this is not a speculation — that the Russian side would very much like to include the topic of security [in the talks] … not only of Ukraine, but also of countries like Poland,” for example, by calling for a reduction of US or NATO troops on Polish territory.

However, he said Friday’s talks could pave the way for progress towards a ceasefire and a settlement to end the Russian invasion.

UPDATE 1600 GMT:

A European diplomat has said of the call between Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, nine European leaders, and Donald Trump: “Overall the meeting was reassuring in that our points came across, but the question remains whether Trump will stick to the agreed script when he gets into the room with Putin.”

UPDATE 1513 GMT:

Switzerland has expanded sanctions on Russia to align with the European Union’s 18th package, passed last month.

The Swiss government is lowering the oil price cap on Russia’s exports in line with the EU’s reduction from $60 per barrel to $47.60, and it is joining the bloc in targeting vessels of Moscow’s “shadow fleet” circumventing the sanctions.

UPDATE 1504 GMT:

Russia is partially restricting voice and video calls on Telegram and WhatsApp.

Communications regulator Roskomnadzor claimed the apps have become “the main services used to defraud and extort money, and to involve Russian citizens in sabotage and terrorist activities”.

A government official said major Russian telecom operators had urged the Kremlin to block foreign messenger calls. The operators are worried about rising equipment costs from sanctions, higher maintenance expenses, and concerns about liability for failing to block suspicious activity.

UPDATE 1453 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky added in remarks in Berlin:

It seems to me that the success of any talks depends first of all on the results.

Our mood now is that we are united, and it was very positive [as] all the partners spoke in one voice, one desire, the same principles and the same vision and this is an important step forward.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commented:

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office issued a statement emphasizing “unwavering” support for Ukraine and thanking Trump “for his efforts in bringing Putin to the table in pursuit of a ceasefire to end to the ongoing bloodshed”.

The Prime Minister was clear that our support for Ukraine is unwavering – international borders must not be changed by force and Ukraine must have robust and credible security guarantees to defend its territorial integrity as part of any deal.

“Europe stands ready to support this and will continue to work alongside President Trump and President Zelenskyy for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

UPDATE 1434 GMT:

Alongside Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says a ceasefire must be the first step towards a lasting arrangement ending Russia’s invasion.

“Borders must not be changed through violence” and any territorial discussions need to be related to the frontline, Merz adds. European partners want to push for “robust safety assurances for Ukraine”.

The strategy is based on supporting Ukraine and putting pressure on Russia. So if in Alaska there’s no movement on the Russian side, then the US and the Europeans need to increase the pressure.

He says Trump “largely shares” the European position in their “very good, constructive talk”: “There is hope that something is moving. There’s hope that there could be peace in Ukraine.”

Zelensky follows with comments on “very intensive” coordination with European leaders: “What concerns Ukraine must be discussed with Ukraine.”

He repeats his call for a summit with Trump and Putin, and for more pressure on Russia.

Putin is “bluffing” when he says he doesn’t care about sanctions, Zelensky assures.

The President said Donald Trump assured him that he will be in contact immediately after Friday’s meeting with Putin.

He repeats, “Any questions concerning our country’s territorial integrity cannot be discussed without regard for our people, for the will of our people and the Ukrainian constitution.”

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte posted:

UPDATE 1427 GMT:

Briefing the press on the phone call between Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, nine European leaders, and Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron quoted Trump’s statement that “wanted to obtain a ceasefire in Ukraine during the meeting with [Vladimir] Putin”.

Trump reassured the European leaders that any territorial issues relating to Ukraine cannot be negotiated without Ukraine. The participants were clear that there must be a clear link between any potential territorial concessions and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Macron said leaders backed calls for more exchanges of prisoners or war and the release of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

UPDATE 1147 GMT:

Russia has restated its ultimata for Ukraine to give up more than 20% of its territory, for the rest of the country to be weak and demilitarized, for sanctions to be lifted on Moscow, and for the Zelensky Government to step aside.

The Ministry’s deputy spokesperson, Alexei Fadeev, reiterated Vladimir Putin’s demands from last year: “Russia’s position remains unchanged, and it was voiced in this very hall just over a year ago, on 14 June 2024.”

UPDATE 1051 GMT:

Ukraine has confirmed a €500 million ($586 million) in finance for the country’s energy security, provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and guaranteed by the European Union.

State-owned oil and gas company Naftogaz will use the funds to cover emergency gas purchases.

The EBRD said:

The latest EBRD finance to Naftogaz follows major Russian attacks on the company’s upstream gas production and processing facilities in the first half of 2025.

These have resulted in significant production losses for the year, as the company rebuilds its damaged operations, and created the need for more gas imports.

Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko posted:

UPDATE 0810 GMT:

The German Government’s spokesperson has confirmed that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky will join Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin for the video call with Donald Trump and US Vice President J.D. Vance.

Before departing for Germany, Zelensky posted clips of his meetings with European leaders and the message:

This war must be ended. Pressure must be exerted on Russia for the sake of a just peace. Ukraine’s and our partners’ experience must be used to prevent deception by Russia.

At present, there is no sign that the Russians are preparing to end the war. Our coordinated efforts and joint actions – of Ukraine, the United States, Europe, and all countries that seek peace – can definitely compel Russia to make peace.

UPDATE 0731 GMT:

In its latest drone attacks inside Russia, Ukraine has targeted a pumping station of the Druzhba oil pipeline and two oil refineries.

Ukraine military intelligence confirmed the strike on the Unecha station, sparking a large fire, in the Bryansk region about 35 miles from the border.

The facility is one of the largest nodes in the Druzhba system, which extends 9,000 km (5,600 miles) and supplies Russia’s defense industry with an annual capacity of 60 million metric tons.

The attack on the pipeline is the second within a week.

UPDATE 0717 GMT:

At least six civilians have been killed and 15 injured by Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past 24 hours.

Air defenses downed 32 of 49 drones and both missiles fired by Russia overnight.

In the Kherson region in southern Ukraine, four people were murdered and four injured. A high-rise building, five houses, a cell tower, vehicles, and a garage were damaged.

In the Donetsk iin the east, Russian forces killed two people in Kostiantynivka and injured 10 others across the region.

Casualties were also reported in the Zaporizhzhia region.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has highlighted Vladimir Putin’s “personal victory” in face-to-face talks with Donald Trump scheduled for Friday in Alaska.

Zelensky noted that Putin had pushed back Trump’s threat of toughened sanctions on Russia and its trading partners, prompted by Moscow’s deadly missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian civilians.

First, he will meet on US territory, which I consider his personal victory. Second, he is coming out of isolation because he is meeting on US territory. Third, with this meeting, he has somehow postponed sanctions.

As Kyiv and its European partners maneuver over a possible Trump capitulation to Putin’s ultimata, including Russia’s seizure of around 20% of Ukraine, Zelensky and nine European leaders will have a video call with the reality TV star on Wednesday.

The President said he could not agree to Russia’s demand for all of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine, even though Moscow’s troops do not hold part of the territory, as well as areas in the south and Crimea.

He noted that the Kremlin would use the gains as a springboard for another invasion. He emphasized to reporters that Putin is seeking domination because he “does not want a sovereign Ukraine”.

I am not going to surrender my country because I have no right to do so. If we leave Donbas today, our fortifications, our terrain, the heights we control, we will clearly open a bridgehead for the preparation of a Russian offensive….

I have heard nothing – not a single proposal – that would guarantee that a new war will not start tomorrow and that Putin will not try to occupy at least Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv.

Zelensky defined the terms to end Russia’s invasion: a ceasefire on the current frontlines, with both sides returning all prisoners of war and deported children, followed by discussion about territory and security guarantees.

The President said he received a “signal” from Trump’s envoy, real estate developer Steve Witkoff, that Russia might agree to a ceasefire: “This was the first signal from them.”

“Negotiations Without Ukraine Will Not Bring lasting Peace”

On Tuesday, the President spoke with more national leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Romanian President Nicușor Dan, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Zelensky said Erdoğan emphasized that “any negotiations without Ukraine will not bring lasting peace” and offered to organize a summit including Zelensky, Trump, and Putin.

He thanked Dan for Romania’s support of the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union, and posted after the conversation with Schoof:

A genuine, real, and fair result can only be achieved with Ukraine and with Europe’s participation. European states are among the leaders in supporting Ukraine right now, and they are ready to take part in the reconstruction of our country after the war ends.