Concerns are growing over Donald Trump’s plans to strike a deal with Vladimir Putin on Friday

A group of European leaders insisted over the weekend that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine” amid growing concerns about the US president Donald Trump’s plans to strike a deal with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin , when the pair meets in Alaska on Friday.

A hastily arranged statement signed by the leaders of Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the UK , and the European Union reiterated that “a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests.”