EU LEADERS HAVE reaffirmed Ukraine’s right to “choose its own destiny” just days before US President Donald Trump is due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

At an extraordinary meeting of European foreign ministers on Tuesday, which Tánaiste Simon Harris attended, leaders stressed that any “just and lasting peace” must respect international law – including Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the principle that borders cannot be changed by force.

Twenty-six EU leaders, excluding Hungary, also backed a joint statement calling for meaningful negotiations to take place only in the context of a ceasefire or a reduction in hostilities.

The leaders also agreed that any diplomatic solution to protect both Ukrainian and European security interests.

Speaking after the meeting, Harris said Europe must “intensify its engagement” with the US ahead of Friday’s talks.

He said that while the war is fought on Ukrainian soil, “it is also a war on the continent of Europe and against a country aspiring to join the European Union.”

“It was agreed that the EU will continue intensive engagement with the US and remain united in our unwavering support for Ukraine,” Harris said.

“I am grateful to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister for briefing us ahead of this crucial meeting.”

Trump has confirmed he will discuss “land swapping” with Putin when they meet in Alaska on Friday for a high-stakes summit on the war in Ukraine, but voiced irritation at Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy for setting conditions on any such deal.

Speaking at the White House yesterday, Trump criticised Zelenskyy’s insistence that any peace agreement involving recognition of Russian control over occupied territory would need to be approved by a national referendum.

“I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelenskyy was saying I have to get constitutional approval,” Trump said.

“He has approval to go to war and kill everybody but he needs approval to do a land swap. Because there will be some land swapping going on. I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody.”

European diplomats have expressed alarm over Washington’s lack of clarity on the specific territories Moscow is seeking and the terms of a potential ceasefire.

Discrepancies in US accounts of Russia’s demands have fuelled concerns that Trump, eager to emphasise his personal rapport with Putin, could agree to damaging concessions.

With reporting from AFP