Trump holds call with Zelenskyy and EU leaders ahead of Putin summit

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is The World Now.

U.S. President Donald Trump held an online summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and key European leaders, ahead of his upcoming face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Hosted from Berlin on Wednesday, the online meeting brought together President Zelenskyy, European leaders, including German Chancellor Merz, French President Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and NATO's Secretary-General Mark Rutte, alongside President Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

The attendees shared thoughts that any peace must include Ukraine's voice, reject territorial concessions, and proceed with firm security guarantees.

Zelenskyy warned that Putin's pledge to pause aggression was a bluff, aimed at stronger leverage on the battlefield.

President Trump later described the call as a "very good conversation" and warned that Russia would face "very severe consequences" if Putin didn't agree to end the war after their summit on Friday.