Secret Trump-Zelensky-EU talks held ahead of Putin summit
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European leaders, US President Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a tightly secured video conference in Berlin ahead of the August 15 Putin-Trump summit.
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A person walks in front German chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020 (AP)
German newspaper Bild reported on Wednesday that European leaders, US President Donald Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a video conference under unusually tight security protocols, reflecting concerns over possible information leaks.
Earlier in the day, German government spokesperson Steffen Meyer confirmed that Zelensky was in Berlin to take part in an online meeting focused on Ukraine. According to Meyer, the 12:00 GMT session included European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, followed by a virtual discussion bringing together Trump, European leaders, and Zelensky.
Bild noted that the talks took place on the fourth floor of the federal chancellery, home to the "situation center," a secure, windowless facility designed to prevent wiretapping. The outlet reported that only German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Zelensky, and their closest advisers were allowed inside, with even interpreters excluded since all participants spoke English. All attendees were required to surrender their phones before entering.
The meeting came just days after Trump confirmed that he will discuss a potential “land swap” with Putin at the Alaska summit as part of a broader Ukraine peace proposal. While Trump has argued that such a deal would require compromises from both Kiev and Moscow, Zelensky has repeatedly stated that he will not agree to any territorial concessions, insisting that any settlement involving Ukraine's borders must be approved by the Ukrainian people. European leaders have warned that any US-Russia deal must also involve Kiev and meet Europe's security interests, with several urging Trump to impose further sanctions on Moscow ahead of the summit.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov revealed that Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had floated the idea of a trilateral meeting with Putin, Trump, and Zelensky during a visit to Moscow, but Russia instead proposed focusing solely on bilateral preparations.
Read more: Russia pushes into Donetsk before Trump–Putin summit in Alaska
Putin Holds Talks with Kim
In a related development, the Kremlin announced on Tuesday that Putin spoke by phone with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un to inform him of his upcoming meeting with Trump. While the DPRK's state news agency KCNA confirmed the call, it did not mention the Alaska summit, which is set for Friday.
KCNA reported that the conversation centered on strengthening bilateral relations under the strategic partnership agreement signed last year. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deeper cooperation. Putin also thanked Pyongyang for supporting the "liberation" of the Kursk region in western Russia, praising the "bravery, heroism, and self-sacrificing spirit" of Korean People's Army personnel aiding Russian forces.
According to South Korean intelligence, more than 10,000 DPRK troops have already been deployed to support Russian operations in western Russia, with a second deployment possibly in the works, signaling expanding military coordination between Moscow and Pyongyang.
