Prior to the trip, Biden will on Monday call French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Schulz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson “to discuss their coordinated responses to Russia’s unprovoked and unprovoked attack on Ukraine,” according to a statement issued by the White House.
Since the idea of a NATO leaders’ summit was first floated about two weeks ago, US and European officials have been discussing potential leaders’ announcements at the conclusion of the meeting, according to several people familiar with the plans.
But key elements that Ukraine wants, such as NATO assistance in creating a no-fly zone or providing Soviet-era fighter jets, are off the table for now as the United States and its partners seek to avoid direct confrontation with Russia. Earlier this month, the Pentagon said it was strongly opposed to a Polish plan to supply fighter jets to Ukraine over fears of being drawn into a direct conflict with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that he was ready to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but warned that if any negotiation attempts failed, it could lead to a “third world war”.
“If there is a 1% chance for us to stop this war, I think we need to seize that opportunity. We need to do that…We are losing people on a daily basis, the innocents on the ground.”
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