US Vice-President JD Vance and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy are hosting a closed-door meeting of senior security officials near London to assess the Ukraine war and explore pathways toward peace, days before the much-anticipated Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.
The talks, taking place at Chevening, Lammy’s official country residence in Kent, come at Washington’s request and include high-level security representatives from the US, Ukraine, and Europe.
UK-Ukraine Coordination Before Alaska
Earlier on Saturday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The two leaders agreed that the London-area meeting would serve as a “vital forum to discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace.”
The conversation underscores the growing diplomatic urgency ahead of the August 15 meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin—a summit that has already sparked concerns in Kyiv and across European capitals.
Zelensky Draws a Red Line
President Zelensky has repeatedly stressed that Ukraine will make no territorial concessions to Russia, directly countering Trump’s recent remarks suggesting that a peace deal might require “swapping some territories.”
“Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier,” Zelensky posted on Telegram, warning that any decision made without Ukraine’s involvement would undermine peace.
“Any solutions that are against us, any solutions that are without Ukraine, are simultaneously solutions against peace,” he wrote. “We are ready, together with President Trump, together with all partners, to work for a real and lasting peace, a peace that will not collapse because of Moscow’s wishes.”
Zelensky’s stance aligns with Ukraine’s constitution, which prohibits surrendering sovereign territory, and reflects his broader strategy of securing international backing before entering any negotiations.
Also Read: India Endorses Trump-Putin Alaska Dialogue, Optimistic on Ukraine Peace Deal
Trump’s Position and Putin’s Demands
Speaking on Friday, Trump framed territorial changes as inevitable in ending a war that has lasted more than three years.
“You’re looking at territory that’s been fought over for three and a half years. A lot of Russians have died. A lot of Ukrainians have died,” he said. “There will be some swapping of territories, to the betterment of both.”
Moscow has consistently demanded that Ukraine recognize Russian sovereignty over multiple occupied regions, agree to demilitarization, and abandon its NATO ambitions—conditions Kyiv has flatly rejected.
European Leaders Voice Concern
European leaders, wary of any bilateral US-Russia deal that sidelines Ukraine, have raised the alarm. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X that “Ukraine’s future could not be decided without the Ukrainians” and insisted Europeans “will necessarily be part of the solution, as their own security is at stake.”
This sentiment mirrors the fear long held in Kyiv that Trump and Putin could craft a framework without Ukraine at the table, effectively forcing terms on the country.
Also Read: Could Trump’s Tariff War Spark a Unified BRICS Stand? Here’s What We Know
Uncertain Planning and Possible Ukrainian Participation
While the White House has not ruled out Zelensky’s participation in some form, CBS News reported that summit planning remains “fluid.” A senior US official indicated that a role for the Ukrainian leader is still possible, though not guaranteed.
On the ground, Ukrainian troops and civilians are weary of the relentless combat and Russian missile barrages. Yet, despite exhaustion, there is little appetite for a “peace at any price” deal, particularly one imposed without Ukraine’s consent.
