OTTAWA — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday as world leaders prepared for a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting is set to take place in Alaska on Friday, but Ukraine will not be represented.

Following their conversation, Carney's office released a statement indicating that both leaders emphasized the importance of Ukrainian involvement in decisions regarding its future. They agreed that international borders should not be altered by force and that ongoing diplomatic efforts must be supported by pressure on Russia to cease its aggression.

Zelenskyy reiterated this sentiment in a social media post, stating, "There can be no decisions without clear security guarantees." He expressed concern that Russia is not genuinely interested in ending the war it initiated in Ukraine in 2022. "The situation on the battlefield and Russia’s wicked strikes on civilian infrastructure and ordinary people prove this clearly," he said.

In light of the upcoming summit, Zelenskyy is working to coordinate a response with allies. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has invited Zelenskyy, Trump, and several European leaders to discussions on Wednesday. The guest list includes U.S. Vice President JD Vance, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and leaders from France, Italy, Britain, Finland, and Poland.

Merz's office stated that the talks will focus on strategies to increase pressure on Russia and prepare for potential peace negotiations, including discussions on territorial claims and security issues. A primary concern among international leaders is the possibility that Trump and Putin may reach an agreement involving territorial concessions from Ukraine. Trump has suggested that such a deal could involve "some swapping of territories," but European allies assert there is no indication that Putin is willing to offer anything in return.

European leaders acknowledge that Moscow is unlikely to relinquish control over the territories it occupies. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated, "As we work towards a sustainable and just peace, international law is clear: All temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine. A sustainable peace also means that aggression cannot be rewarded."

Since 2014, Russia has occupied Crimea and has illegally annexed regions in eastern and southern Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began over three years ago. Rutte emphasized that any peace talks following the Alaska summit must address the issue of Russian control over Ukrainian territory, stating, "We can never accept that in a legal sense."

European leaders have indicated that meaningful negotiations can only occur in the context of a ceasefire or reduced hostilities. They also affirmed Ukraine's right to determine its own future, including the need for security guarantees to prevent further invasions. NATO allies agreed in 2023 to a process that could lead to Ukraine's eventual membership, although the Trump administration has currently set that prospect aside.