Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin on Wednesday for discussions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European and U.S. leaders. This meeting comes ahead of a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for later this week in Alaska. The German government has organized a series of virtual meetings to ensure that the perspectives of European and Ukrainian leaders are considered before the summit.

Zelenskyy is set to meet with European leaders first, followed by a virtual call with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. A final call will include leaders from the “coalition of the willing,” a group prepared to support any future peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv. Merz previously pledged to assist Ukraine in developing long-range missile systems during Zelenskyy's last visit to Berlin in May.

Ahead of the summit, Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about Putin's willingness to negotiate in good faith. He noted that his government has engaged in over 30 discussions with international partners but sees no indication that Russia is preparing to end the conflict. In a statement on his official Telegram channel, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for coordinated pressure on Russia to achieve a genuine peace, stating, "Pressure must be applied on Russia for an honest peace. We must take the experience of Ukraine and our partners to prevent deception by Russia."

The upcoming summit is seen as a critical moment, with Trump indicating he wants to assess whether Putin is serious about ending the war, which has now lasted four years. Trump described the meeting as a "feel-out meeting" to gauge the Russian leader's intentions. However, his comments have raised concerns among European allies, particularly regarding his suggestion that Ukraine may need to concede some territory to Russia.

European leaders are advocating for Ukraine's involvement in any peace negotiations, fearing that discussions excluding Kyiv could favor Moscow. Trump has not committed to ensuring Zelenskyy's participation in his talks with Putin, which has led to further unease among European allies.

Zelenskyy has firmly rejected any proposals for Ukraine to withdraw from the remaining 30% of the Donetsk region, which Russia has suggested as part of a ceasefire agreement. He reiterated that Ukraine will not surrender any territory, calling such actions unconstitutional and a potential catalyst for future Russian aggression.

In the context of the ongoing conflict, Russian forces are reportedly advancing in the Donbas region, particularly around the city of Pokrovsk. Analysts warn that losing this territory could significantly impact Ukraine's military supply lines. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have conducted drone strikes on an oil pumping station in Russia's Bryansk region, targeting infrastructure that supports the Russian military.

As the summit approaches, the stakes remain high for both Ukraine and Europe, with fears that a favorable outcome for Putin could embolden further aggression in the region.