【By Observer News, Xiong Chaoran】 With the upcoming meeting between the US and Russian presidents in Alaska, what will the image of a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement look like?

On August 10 local time, Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" aired a pre-recorded interview from August 8, during which US Vice President Vance revealed that a peace agreement reached through negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is unlikely to satisfy either side. Any peace agreement may leave both Russia and Ukraine dissatisfied, and the US aims to achieve a peace solution that both countries can accept.

"This won't make anyone very satisfied; Russia and Ukraine may ultimately both be dissatisfied with it," Vance described the upcoming meeting between the US and Russian presidents as a "major breakthrough in American diplomacy," and said the move aims to achieve a negotiation solution to the territorial issue, "to stop the killing."

On August 9 local time, British Foreign Secretary Lam and US Vice President Vance co-hosted a meeting outside London, attended by senior officials from Ukraine and European countries. According to the New York Times, citing two European officials who received the meeting briefing, European countries expressed support for Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the meeting and tried to emphasize that Trump should consider the common views of European countries. The two European officials also emphasized that the era when the US and Soviet leaders "divided Europe" at Yalta has long passed.

The Financial Times reported on August 10 local time that European leaders are currently urging the US to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions to influence the final outcome of the upcoming US-Russia summit, which could determine Ukraine's fate and the long-term security of the European continent. However, Vance warned in the pre-recorded interview that the US would no longer fund Ukraine as before. "If you care so much about this conflict, you should be willing to provide funding for this conflict in a more direct and substantial way," he said.

Vance interviewed by Fox News, screenshot

According to multiple officials who attended or heard the meeting briefings, European and Ukrainian security advisors at the meeting chaired and attended by Lam and Vance believed that the US should apply greater pressure on Russia through sanction threats.

"Putin will only act under pressure," German Chancellor Merkel, who was scheduled to call US President Trump on August 10, said: "Clearly, military pressure is not enough, and US sanctions have not been implemented yet. If they were actually implemented, the impact on the Russian economy would be huge. I have been urging the US President to do so."

Merkel added that the Alaska talks must yield tangible results. "Either increase pressure on Russia, or let Russia realize that this conflict cannot continue any longer."

European officials also believe that any ceasefire agreement should be enforced by imposing strict sanctions on any violation of the agreement, ensuring that Russia does not gain economic benefits from the peace before resuming hostilities.

Two EU officials said that Europe is also considering freezing Russian sovereign assets as leverage, with Brussels considering using these assets to fund Ukraine. They said one proposed plan is to borrow 19 billion euros in Russian assets held by the Euroclear bank in Brussels and then lend it to Ukraine.

A senior EU official claimed: "If Russia does not compensate Ukraine for the damage caused, there may eventually be discussions on how to handle these assets."

Due to reports that Trump is considering discussing possible territorial concessions with Russian President Putin, Europeans have demanded strong security guarantees for Ukraine in any solution. "Security guarantees are crucial for Ukraine," said the EU official, adding: "The strongest security guarantees are that the Ukrainian armed forces and third-country support for Ukraine are not limited."

Additionally, European governments also oppose imposing restrictions on the Ukrainian army and Western military and financial support for Ukraine.

On August 8 local time, Trump took to social media to "announce" information about the meeting with Putin, revealing that the peace agreement might involve "Ukrainian territory cession." Concerned Europeans argued that the current front lines should be the starting point for ceasefire negotiations. An EU official said: "Regarding territorial issues, Russia's position is described as territorial exchange, but this seems to be a rather one-sided exchange."

On August 10 local time, NATO Secretary General Lul told ABC that the talks will also "discuss that Ukraine absolutely needs to decide its own future... its military forces are not limited." He added that NATO's presence in the east should not be "restricted."

In Kyiv, senior officials said they are worried that Trump might try to pressure Zelenskyy into accepting any agreement reached in Alaska. Since returning to the White House, Trump has twice suspended the transport of weapons to Ukraine and once suspended intelligence sharing to force Zelenskyy to end the conflict.

On August 9 local time, Zelenskyy delivered a video speech, making a firm statement, saying that Ukrainians "will not give their land to occupiers." "The answer to the issue of Ukrainian territory is written into the Ukrainian Constitution. No one will deviate from this - and no one can deviate," he said: "Ukraine is ready to make real decisions that can bring peace. Any decision that is not in our favor, any decision that does not take Ukraine into account, is also a decision that goes against peace."

Trump and Putin, photo

According to reports, German Chancellor Merkel stated that European countries have been urging Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to attend the Alaska meeting. Vance said that the US is trying to arrange a meeting between Putin, Zelenskyy, and Trump, but he believes that Putin would not benefit from meeting with Zelenskyy before meeting with Trump. "Frankly, we are now trying to determine the schedule, so that the three leaders can sit down and discuss how to end this conflict."

According to an August 10 local time report by NBC, the White House is considering inviting Zelenskyy to Alaska to attend events alongside US President Trump, who will meet with Russian President Putin on August 15.

According to sources, Zelenskyy's visit has not been finalized yet, and it is unclear whether he will ultimately go to Alaska, but the possibility "is completely there," "everyone is eager for this to happen." A person familiar with the discussion said that even if Zelenskyy goes to Alaska, it is currently unclear whether he and Putin will meet in the same room.

When asked whether the US has formally invited Zelenskyy to Alaska, a senior White House official responded: "President Trump is still willing to hold a tripartite summit with the two leaders. Currently, the White House is focused on preparing for the bilateral meeting requested by President Putin."

This article is an exclusive piece by Observer News. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7537128234120217123/

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