Ukraine must ‘choose its destiny’ — EU

European Union leaders stressed on Tuesday “the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny,” just three days before United States President Donald Trump was due to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

“We, the Leaders of the European Union, welcome the efforts of President Trump towards ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and achieving a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine,” a statement said.

“A just and lasting peace that brings stability and security must respect international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and that international borders must not be changed by force.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders are scheduled to meet with Trump on Wednesday.

Trump has been vague about his expectations for the Alaska summit with Putin on Friday, describing it as a “feel-out meeting” to gauge the Russian leader’s ideas for ending the war in Ukraine.

Zelensky has ruled out ceding territory seized by force. Trump — who publicly berated Zelensky at a White House meeting in February — said he was a “little bothered” by Zelensky’s stance and insisted land swaps would need to take place.

“There’ll be some swapping, there’ll be some changes in land,” he said.

But Trump said he would also tell Putin that “you’ve got to end this war.”

In other developments, Russian forces have rapidly advanced in a narrow but important sector of the front line, the Ukrainian military and analysts said Tuesday, days ahead of a meeting between the Russian and US presidents.

Moscow’s army, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, has made costly but incremental gains across the sprawling front in recent months and claims to have annexed four Ukrainian regions while still fighting to control them.