The European leaders' meeting with Trump was "constructive", according to Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who initiated Wednesday's summit, at a press conference.
"Important decisions" may be made at the meeting in Alaska, he continues, but emphasizes that European and Ukrainian security interests must be protected. First, a ceasefire must come, then an agreement on a long-lasting peace can be concluded, he continues.
Ukraine must sit at the negotiating table when follow-up meetings take place, says Merz.
Want a three-party meeting
The Ukrainian president, who participated physically in Berlin at the otherwise entirely digital meeting, emphasizes that he wants to get a meeting with Trump and Putin. Trump also opens up for a three-party meeting, if the meeting with Putin "goes okay".
I would like to hold it almost directly after, and we can have a short second meeting.
Zelenskyj emphasizes that Putin "bluffs".
He is trying to put pressure along the entire Ukrainian front line ahead of the meeting in Alaska. Russia is trying to show that it can occupy all of Ukraine, he says.
Prior to the meeting, reports emerged that Russian forces are making progress in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. CNN describes it as Russia trying to capture as much land as possible ahead of the upcoming meeting in Alaska.
Leaders positive
Overall, the European leaders are positive after the summit in Berlin, but if Russia does not give any signals that the country wants to reach a peace solution, Europe will put more pressure on Putin, according to Merz.
Sanctions must be introduced and strengthened if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire, agrees Zelenskyj.
Trump also says that Russia will face "very serious" consequences if they do not agree to end the war in Ukraine at the meeting on Friday.
At Wednesday's meeting, leaders from Germany, Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Poland, as well as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and EU Council President António Costa, met first.
The US was let into the virtual meeting room an hour after it began. Then, the "Coalition of the willing" met, where Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also participated.
From the Russian side, today's meetings are called "insignificant", at the same time as they accuse the EU of "sabotaging" the Russian-American efforts to reach an end to the war.
