Story perspectives

European Leaders Lead Ukraine Peace Talks, Demand Five Conditions

6/11/2026

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Summary

Story summary

European leaders—Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer—will lead Ukraine-Russia peace talks after meeting in London.
They outlined five conditions—immediate ceasefire, security guarantees and frozen Russian assets until compensation.
President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will stay in talks as Europe seeks EU backing at G7.
Russia launched 166 drones and two missiles overnight, killing civilians in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk.

History

Historical Context

The current demand for a ceasefire builds on a legacy of Budapest-named multilateral pacts, a pattern that began with agreements like the Budapest Treaty. By January 2026 the Treaty has 92 parties, with ARIPO, the Eurasian Patent Organization and the European Patent Organisation joining under the Paris Convention, a precedent that reinforces expectations that the United States and other guarantors remain central to any settlement.

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Story summary

European leaders—Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer—will lead Ukraine-Russia peace talks after meeting in London.
They outlined five conditions—immediate ceasefire, security guarantees and frozen Russian assets until compensation.
President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will stay in talks as Europe seeks EU backing at G7.
Russia launched 166 drones and two missiles overnight, killing civilians in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk.

1 / 2