European leaders have expressed their readiness to engage with US President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy towards a trilateral summit, emphasizing that such efforts must be supported by Europe. In a statement released by the European Commission, leaders firmly asserted that "It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory. International borders must not be changed by force." This declaration came just hours after a meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded. The statement was endorsed by prominent European figures including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and European Council President António Costa.

Ahead of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, a 'Coalition of the Willing,' comprising 31 countries, convened via video call with Zelenskyy. This group was established with the critical objective of safeguarding a potential deal to end Russia's war against Ukraine, a mission that gained urgency following Donald Trump's unilateral negotiations with Vladimir Putin, which caught Europe off guard. The leaders, including Macron, Merz, and Starmer, expressed their welcome for "President Trump's efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine, end Russia's war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace," reflecting on the US President's meeting with his Russian counterpart in Alaska. Crucially, they insisted on "ironclad security guarantees" for Ukraine, stressing "no limitations" on Ukraine's armed forces and unequivocally stating that "Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine's pathway to EU and NATO." The European leaders also reiterated their commitment to imposing sanctions on Russia "as long as the killing in Ukraine continues."

President Zelenskyy echoed these sentiments, calling for "real peace" and not merely "another pause between Russian invasions." He indicated that he had communicated to Trump that "sanctions should be strengthened if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia tries to evade an honest end to the war." Zelenskyy underscored the vital importance of involving European leaders, who were notably absent from the initial Trump-Putin summit. Meanwhile, several other European leaders reacted with more pronounced skepticism regarding the outcome of the summit. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide interpreted Putin's talking points as "code for the Russian justification for the illegal invasion of Ukraine." Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated that "Putin is still only interested in the greatest possible territorial gains and the restoration of the Soviet empire." EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas grimly observed that "the harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon," noting new Russian attacks even as delegations met. "Putin continues to drag out negotiations and hopes he gets away with it. He left Anchorage without making any commitments to end the killing," Kallas added.

Zelenskyy's diplomatic engagements continued with a visit to Brussels, where he met with Ursula von der Leyen. The two participated in the video conference with Macron, Merz, and Starmer. Von der Leyen later confirmed her participation in Zelenskyy's White House meeting with Trump, alongside other European leaders, at the Ukrainian leader's request.

During the White House meeting, five European leaders, the President of the European Commission, and the Secretary General of NATO collectively rallied around President Zelenskyy to support his demands for peace, in the presence of US President Donald Trump. Experts, such as Sven Biscop, director of the Egmont Institute, a Brussels-based think tank, noted the EU's renewed engagement in discussions about a possible peace agreement. Biscop stated, "I dare say that the EU is back but now we have to stand firm and show determination. And that also means a willingness to accept the risk, especially by giving Ukraine a security guarantee with troops on the ground." The primary objective for the Europeans was to ensure that robust security guarantees for Kyiv would be an integral part of any future peace agreement, thereby protecting Ukraine from potential future Russian aggressions. Notably, in a shift from his earlier stance, the US President for the first time hinted that the US might provide Ukraine with security guarantees. Biscop explained, "Trump said this time that the Europeans should provide a security guarantee coordinated by the United States." He considered this a "change of viewpoint" and a "move in the right direction, but it's still not very detailed." The specifics of the security guarantees to be provided by the United States and the EU to Ukraine are still under negotiation.

According to the Egmont Institute's director, the most effective security guarantee would closely resemble Article 5 of the NATO treaty. "A security guarantee means promising to go to war if your security is threatened. Anything less than that is support, but it is not a security guarantee. The best way to make this credible is to deploy troops to Ukraine after a ceasefire or peace agreement," the researcher emphasized. President Zelenskyy later announced that Western allies would formalize security guarantees for Ukraine within the next ten days.

Amidst these diplomatic endeavors, the conflict continued on the ground. Russia reported a Ukrainian drone attack that ignited a fire at a nuclear power plant in its western Kursk region overnight, coinciding with Ukraine's 34th independence anniversary. Russian officials confirmed that multiple power and energy facilities were targeted. The fire at the nuclear plant was quickly extinguished without reported injuries, though a transformer was damaged; radiation levels remained normal. The United Nations' nuclear watchdog acknowledged media reports but awaited independent confirmation, with Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi reiterating that "every nuclear facility must be protected at all times." Ukraine did not immediately comment on this alleged attack. Firefighters also responded to a blaze at the port of Ust-Luga in Russia's Leningrad region, a significant fuel export terminal, reportedly caused by approximately 10 Ukrainian drones shot down by air defenses. Russia's Defence Ministry claimed to have intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones over its territory. In retaliation, Russia fired 72 drones and decoys, along with a cruise missile, into Ukraine, of which 48 were reportedly shot down or jammed.

On its Independence Day, Ukraine showcased its unwavering resolve. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a video address from Kyiv's Independence Square, asserting, "We are building a Ukraine that will have enough strength and power to live in security and peace," and calling for a "just peace." He emphasized national self-determination, stating, "What our future will be is up to us alone," a statement seen as a subtle reference to concerns that the US-Russia summit might marginalize Ukrainian and European interests. "And the world knows this. And the world respects this. It respects Ukraine. It perceives Ukraine as an equal," Zelenskyy added. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was among the VIP guests in Kyiv, meeting with Zelenskyy. Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's chief of staff, highlighted the importance of such support: "On this special day — Ukraine's Independence Day — it is especially important for us to feel the support of our friends. And Canada has always stood by our side." Furthermore, Norway announced a substantial new military aid package of about 7 billion kroner (€594 million) for air defense systems, jointly funding two Patriot systems with Germany and aiding in radar procurement. Concurrently, fighting persisted on the front line in eastern Ukraine, with Russia claiming to have seized two villages in the Donetsk region.