ISTANBUL

Territorial issues cannot be discussed without Ukraine and no serious exchange plans are currently on the table, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday.

His remarks came after a virtual meeting with the Ukrainian and US presidents, and European leaders ahead of Donald Trump's meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday to end the war in Ukraine.

"They cannot be discussed without the presence of the Ukrainian president at the table. There are not today, in any serious way, territorial exchange schemes on the table," Macron told reporters along with European Council President Antonio Costa.

He said questions of the occupied territories will be "determining elements" of a peace negotiation and are "inseparable" from the security guarantees provided to the rest of the Ukrainian territory and to Europe.

"It’s perfectly natural that the United States of America meet with Russia. It’s actually a good thing to pacify the environment. They also have many bilateral topics, but it is important that, when issues concerning Europe—our collective security—are addressed, there is coordination with us Europeans," Macron added.

He said the "first objective" of Trump, in his meeting with Putin will be to call for a ceasefire.

"We have adopted a new package of sanctions, we are preparing another, and I think it will depend on the negotiations in the coming days and weeks — but nothing should be ruled out," Macron added.

Costa, for his part, said they must maintain pressure on Russia, support to Ukraine and coordinated diplomatic effort between Europe, US and the rest of the world.

"This war is not only about Ukraine, but it is about defending international law, which must prevail," he said.

Trump has said that a peace settlement could mean land swaps by both Ukraine and Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, argues no decision about Ukraine can be agreed without Ukraine.