Trump Holds Pre-Summit Call With Zelensky and EU Leaders Before Putin Meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday held a conference call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders, according to officials familiar with the matter. The consultation takes place two days before Trump is due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, a session the White House has framed as a “listening exercise” on options to end the war in Ukraine. European capitals and Kyiv are working to craft a united negotiating position ahead of the Alaska talks. Zelensky has cautioned that any deal struck without Ukraine’s direct involvement would amount to “dead decisions.” Details of the call were not disclosed, but the engagement underscores the push by Washington and its allies to coordinate strategy toward Moscow as the conflict approaches its fourth year.