Last updated: 7:49 PM

A virtual meeting took place two days after the tycoon and Putin's summit in Alaska. The Ukrainian president flew to Berlin for the link-up:"I warned the leaders that the Kremlin is bluffing." The head of the Elysée Palace: "The US president's goal is a ceasefire."

Ukraine's allies are considering a gradual easing of sanctions against Russia if a full ceasefire is agreed upon, sources close to the EU Council Presidency told Sky News. The goal is to immediately secure a 15-day truce—during which time sanctions would remain in place—and then move to a more structured suspension of hostilities in Ukraine. According to the plan, the measures would be reintroduced if violations are found."There will be consequences, there will be very serious consequences," US President Donald Trump said in response to a question about whether Vladimir Putin would face consequences if he did not agree to halt the war after their meeting on Friday. “I don’t think I can convince Putin not to bomb civilians, because I’ve done so in past conversations, and he’s continued to launch missiles. I want the war to end.” “If the first meeting goes well, we’ll have a second meeting between President Putin, President Zelensky, and myself, if they want me to be there. I’d like to do that almost immediately afterward,” US President Donald Trump said during a press conference at the Kennedy Center. “There may not even be a second meeting,” Trump added, if he doesn’t get the answers he’s looking for from Putin. “We had a very good conversation with Zelensky and European leaders. I rate it 10.”
• Donald Trump said this, reiterating that after his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska he will call the Ukrainian leader. Giorgia Meloni
"said she was very satisfied with the unity of purpose and the capacity for dialogue that the West is demonstrating in the face of a fundamental challenge to security and the defense of international law." This was stated in a statement from Palazzo Chigi after the calls between
• EU countries, Donald Trump, and Volodymyr Zelensky."Now is the time to see what Russia's attitude will be in Alaska, as it has so far failed to take any significant steps forward." "I always hope for a ceasefire, for the violence to end, and for them to reach an agreement. Why the war after so long? What is the purpose?" Pope Leo XIV
said this in response to a question from ANSA upon his arrival at Castel Gandolfo about what he expects from the August summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• Volodymyr Zelensky
reiterated that his position on Donbass remains unchanged."Any issue concerning the territorial integrity of Ukraine cannot be discussed like this, without considering our Constitution and the will of our people," the Ukrainian president declared, speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after the video call with European leaders and Donald Trump, answering a question about the possibility of ceding the region to Russia."Regarding our territorial integrity, ultimately the decision will be made at the leader level. Without Ukraine (at the negotiating table, ed.) it is impossible to achieve this goal." "My position will not change," concluded the Ukrainian president, who yesterday declared he had"no intention" of ceding his country's lands. Russian President Vladimir Putin"is bluffing, trying to push beyond the front line" to pretend he can occupy all of Ukraine, but"that's not the case." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared this, calling for further sanctions against Moscow if the Kremlin does not accept a ceasefire. During a joint press conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Zelensky explained that he had used the virtual meeting to reiterate to Donald Trump and European leaders that Putin"does not want peace." "Putin cannot deceive us," the Ukrainian president added, specifying that Trump promised to contact him after Friday's summit with the Russian president in Alaska.
• "Together with Trump, Zelensky, and other European leaders, we had a very positive telephone conversation. We discussed the upcoming bilateral meeting in Alaska. Today, Europe, the United States, and NATO strengthened common ground on Ukraine. We will continue to coordinate closely. No one wants peace more than we do—a just and lasting peace." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on social media.
• "President Trump shared three very important objectives with us: first, the ceasefire; second, that no one other than Ukraine can negotiate on matters concerning Ukraine; and third, the United States' willingness to share efforts with Europe to strengthen security conditions once we have achieved a lasting and just peace for Ukraine." This was stated by the President of the European Council Antonio Costa alongside Emmanuel Macron at the end of the video call with Donald Trump, wishing"a great success" for Friday's meeting with Vladimir Putin to open "the path to peace".