Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has warned that without European representation at upcoming Ukraine ceasefire talks, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could pressure Kyiv into making damaging concessions. Speaking ahead of anticipated bilateral talks between Trump and Putin next week, Wallace argued that a European nation — ideally France or the United Kingdom — should be at the negotiating table to prevent what he called a “bullying” scenario against President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Concerns over territorial concessions
According to The Wall Street Journal, Putin may demand Kyiv’s recognition of Russian control over occupied Ukrainian territories in exchange for troop withdrawals from other areas. The report suggests Trump could be open to such terms, prioritising a quick end to hostilities, even if it means legitimising Russia’s territorial gains. Ukrainian officials and EU governments are expected to reject this approach, which could in turn prompt Washington to reconsider military aid to Ukraine.
Wallace and other Western figures warn that halting US support because Kyiv refuses to legitimise occupation would undermine the credibility of American security commitments globally. Such a move would send a signal that military aggression can dictate political outcomes, eroding trust among democratic states.
Kyiv’s red lines and constitutional limits
Ukraine has expressed readiness for a ceasefire along the current front line but remains firmly opposed to international recognition of Russia’s territorial claims. The Ukrainian constitution prohibits any unilateral changes to the country’s borders without a national referendum. Zelensky’s government argues that conceding occupied lands would violate both domestic law and the will of citizens, while setting a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes to pursue territorial expansion by force.
Strategic role for Europe in negotiations
European nations, especially the UK and France, have provided extensive political, economic and military assistance to Ukraine. Wallace insists that their exclusion from peace talks risks sidelining both Ukraine’s and Europe’s security interests. He contends that London and Paris could serve as a counterweight in negotiations, limiting the scope for unilateral deals between Trump and Putin and ensuring that any agreement includes robust security guarantees for Ukraine.
Western officials caution that an agreement without such guarantees would likely only freeze the conflict temporarily, weaken the rules-based international order, and diminish Western influence in the Global South, where perceptions of how major powers respond to aggression are closely watched.
