Ukraine and its European supporters have firmly opposed any land swap decisions between the United States and Russia behind their backs ahead of the upcoming summit in Alaska. However, European officials admit that Moscow is unlikely to willingly relinquish the Ukrainian territories it currently occupies.
Ahead of Friday’s summit, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested a peace deal might involve “some swapping of territories.” But so far, there is no indication Russia is prepared to negotiate on territorial concessions. Notably, neither Ukraine nor European representatives have been invited to participate in the summit.
European Union foreign ministers met Monday following discussions among U.S. and European security advisors over the weekend. They expressed concern that Russian President Vladimir Putin may portray Ukraine as rigid to claim a political advantage.
Concerns are growing in Europe and Kyiv that Ukraine could be pressured into surrendering land or accepting limitations on its sovereignty. Both Ukraine and its European allies reject any claims by Putin to Ukrainian territory before a ceasefire is agreed upon.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed, “International law is clear: All temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine,” adding, “A sustainable peace means aggression cannot be rewarded.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk underscored that state borders cannot be changed by force and any territorial agreements must involve Ukraine’s participation.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany would not accept territorial discussions or decisions by Russia and the U.S. without involving Europeans or Ukrainians.
Nonetheless, the facts on the ground are difficult to ignore. Since 2022, Russia has illegally annexed parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, while continuing its occupation of Crimea since 2014.
Along the 1,000-kilometer front line, Russia’s larger army has made slow but costly advances during its summer offensive, with U.N. estimates reporting over 12,000 Ukrainian civilian deaths due to relentless bombardments.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged that Russia’s control over parts of Ukraine must be addressed in peace talks following the Alaska summit. He clarified that while Western allies cannot accept this control legally, they may tacitly acknowledge it, comparing the situation to the U.S. hosting Baltic diplomatic missions during Soviet occupation without legal recognition.
For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, conceding any territory without a ceasefire would be politically untenable after the heavy sacrifices made by Ukrainian troops.
Experts suggest Putin’s goal is less about territory and more about securing a Russia-friendly Ukraine with a compliant government unlikely to seek NATO membership, similar to pro-Russian separatist regions in Georgia.
Zelenskyy insists that fighting must stop before negotiations begin, a stance backed by Europe. They emphasize that any land swaps should be decided by Ukraine and not set as preconditions for a ceasefire.
Territorial claims may also be part of broader talks on security guarantees Ukraine seeks to prevent future conflicts.
Europe believes Ukraine’s strongest defense is a well-armed military capable of deterring further Russian aggression, insisting on no limits on troop numbers or weaponry.
Additionally, Europe asserts Ukraine should freely choose its future, whether EU membership or neutrality, despite the Trump administration ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine in the near term.
