Canada, Ukraine reaffirm Kyiv’s central role in peace talks ahead of Trump-Putin summit

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation, reiterating their firm stance that Ukraine must be an active participant in any negotiations regarding a potential end to the ongoing war on its territory.

The discussion comes ahead of the high-stakes meeting scheduled for August 15 in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin — the first bilateral summit between the two leaders since 2021. Both Carney and Zelenskyy welcomed President Trump’s initiative, praising his leadership in seeking a durable peace for Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports via the Prime Minister’s Office.

“The two leaders underscored that decisions on the future of Ukraine must be made by Ukrainians [and] international borders cannot be changed by force,” a release from the Prime Minister’s Office said following the call.

Prime Minister Carney and President Zelenskyy agreed on the “categorical imperatives of ending Russia’s barbaric war of aggression and establishing a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine.”

The call also served as a platform to reaffirm the need for sustained international pressure on Russia. The leaders agreed that any future peace arrangement must include “robust and credible” security guarantees to ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Following the conversation, President Zelenskyy took to social media to express his gratitude:

"I am grateful for Canada's support for Ukraine and our people," he wrote. "We agreed that no decisions concerning Ukraine's future and the security of our people can be made without Ukraine's participation."

Zelenskyy also voiced skepticism over Russia's intentions, warning that "the Russians simply want to buy time" and that, without security assurances and a seat at the negotiating table, "sanctions against Russia must remain in force and be constantly strengthened."

Russia currently occupies nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, annexed in 2014, and parts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. Moscow has formally claimed sovereignty over these territories, though its control remains partial.

In a press briefing on August 11, US President Donald Trump previewed his approach to the upcoming summit with Putin:

"So I'm going in to speak to Vladimir Putin, and I'm going to be telling him; 'you've got to end this war. You've got to end it,'" Trump said, describing the meeting as a "feel-out" session. He also noted that a future round of talks could potentially include President Zelenskyy.

The Prime Minister and the President of Ukraine welcomed the US efforts to facilitate peace in Ukraine, specifically highlighting Trump’s role. Carney endorsed a recent joint statement by European leaders advocating for Ukraine’s direct participation in any diplomatic efforts.

“The two leaders underscored that decisions on the future of Ukraine must be made by Ukrainians, that international borders cannot be changed by force, that diplomatic engagement must be reinforced by continued pressure on Russia to end its aggression, and the need for robust and credible security to enable Ukraine to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty,” the Prime Minister’s Office added.

Canada’s support for Ukraine remains comprehensive and unwavering. Prime Minister Carney highlighted Ottawa’s recent commitments, which include $2 billion in new military aid and a $2.3 billion loan to assist in the reconstruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure and public services.

In coordination with allies, Canada also continues to target the Kremlin's economic lifelines. Last week, Canada, the European Union, and the United Kingdom announced their intention to lower the price cap on Russian crude oil in a bid to undermine Moscow’s capacity to finance its war.

Furthermore, as co-chairs of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, Canada and Ukraine jointly reiterated their call for Russia to “immediately and unconditionally return Ukrainian children who have been unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred from Ukraine.”

In closing, Prime Minister Carney reaffirmed Canada's commitment to work in lockstep with President Trump, the United States, the broader Coalition of the Willing, and President Zelenskyy to ensure peace and security across Ukraine and Europe.

By Vafa Guliyeva