EUROPEAN UNION leaders appealed to US President Donald Trump today to defend their security interests at a summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as they remain sidelined. 

The US and Russian leaders will meet this week to discuss the war in Ukraine, but European governments have been left desperate to exert their influence. 

It is still unclear whether Ukraine will take part in the summit, at which Mr Trump has said he wants to see whether Mr Putin is serious about ending the war. 

The US president has previously said that Ukraine will have to give up some Russian-held territory and that Moscow must also accept land swaps. 

In a statement, the leaders of all EU member states, except Hungary, said that they “welcome the efforts of President Trump towards ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.” 

But, they underlined, “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine” and “international borders must not be changed by force.”

They will make a fresh attempt tomorrow to rally Mr Trump to support Ukraine at virtual meetings convened by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.