BRUSSELS (AP) — Ukraine and its European backers on Monday sought talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in an effort to protect their security interests ahead of his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said European leaders had laid out terms for a ceasefire in Ukraine that would protect their security interests in a call on Wednesday with U.S. President Donald Trump.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said the positions of Ukraine, its European allies and US President Donald Trump are "very much in agreement" ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska later this week.