Zelensky to bring Macron and top European allies for White House showdown with Trump as Starmer hosts war talks
POWER PLAY Zelensky to bring Macron and top European allies for White House showdown with Trump as Starmer hosts war talks
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
VOLODYMYR Zelensky will be joined by Emmanuel Macron and several top European allies as he flies to Washington to meet Donald Trump on Monday.
The Ukrainian president has been summoned to talk about Vladimir Putin's latest war demands as the tyrant attempts to wrestle back control of peace talks.
3
Volodymyr Zelensky will be joined by several top European leaders as he flies to Washington to meet Donald Trump on Monday
Credit: The Times
3
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin shake hands after holding a peace summit in Alaska
Credit: Reuters
3
Ukrainian territorial defence soldiers fire an artillery gun as discussions around a peace agreement continue
Credit: Getty
EU President Ursula von der Leyen was first to announce she will be by Zelensky's side before a string of fellow superpowers followed.
German chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and Finland's Alexander Stubb are all now set to travel.
More details around who may attend are expected to emerge following a "coalition of the willing" meeting today.
It is due to be chaired by Sir Keir Starmer, Macron and Merz along with a host of other continental leaders and will focus on Europe's response to Russia's peace terms.
Diplomatic sources have revealed a number of details around a reported agreement discussed between Putin and Trump in Alaska.
One of the major things reportedly spoken about involves territorial swaps.
The Kremlin tyrant is believed to have said he must claim Donetsk and Luhansk regions as Russian.
In exchange, he would freeze the frontline elsewhere and halt all future military advances in southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
Sources close to Zelensky believe the Ukrainian leader is unlikely to ever agree to giving up territory as it would be a win for Russia.
The US has reportedly proposed an agreement that would see Ukraine be offered Nato-esque protections similar to Article 5.
The deal would importantly not see Kyiv join the alliance which is one of Putin's main demands.
It comes as Putin broke his silence overnight as he vowed to finally agree to a 'fair' deal to end the war in Ukraine.
Vlad told top officials in Moscow that hostilities must stop 'as soon as possible' but insisted the 'root causes' of the war must be ironed out before could peace be achieved.
Zelensky responded saying that there can never be a peace plan until Russia stops killing innocent civilians.
In a post on X, Zelensky said Vlad's conflicting words compared to his actions "complicates the situation".
He added that Putin continues to lack "the will to carry out a simple order to stop the strikes".
Read our live blog for the latest on the Trump and Putin peace talks...
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Channel 4
a minute ago
- Channel 4
What is the significance of European leaders at White House peace talks?
After Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump meet, they will be joined by seven European leaders, to continue talks on how to end the war in Ukraine.
Channel 4
a minute ago
- Channel 4
Can Zelenskyy and Trump make a Ukraine peace deal?
Six months after their bust-up in the Oval Office, the Ukrainian and US presidents are holding another high stakes meeting at the White House. So far it all seems far more cordial, but there are fears Volodymyr Zelenskyy will come under pressure from Donald Trump to hand over the Donbas region to Russia. This time he has back-up in the shape of his European allies. They want US security guarantees for Ukraine, while President Trump just wants a deal, no matter what the cost to Ukraine. The Russian contribution? An overnight bombardment which killed 14 Ukrainian civilians.
Daily Mirror
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer praises Trump and says today's meeting could be 'historic'
Keir Starmer thanked Trump at the top of a multilateral meeting of European leaders and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky Keir Starmer praised Donald Trump and said European leaders could today take a "historic step" towards ending the Ukraine War. At the top of a multilateral meeting at the White House, the Prime Minister told Trump: "I really feel that we can, I think, with the right approach this afternoon, make real progress, particularly on the security guarantees." Details of what the US is willing to provide or support by way of security guarantees have not yet emerged. But there have been indications from Trump and his team that US boots on the ground as well as a 'NATO-style' protection guarantee were on the table. Mr Starmer added: "Your indication of security guarantees, of some sort of article five-style guarantees, fits with what we've been doing with the coalition of the willing which we started some months ago, bringing countries together and showing that we were prepared to step up to the plate when it came to security. "With you coming alongside, the US alongside, what we've already developed, I think we could take a really important step forward today - a historic step, actually, could come out of this meeting in terms of security for Ukraine and security in Europe." Earlier, Donald Trump was apparently caught on a 'hot mic' discussing his real thoughts about Putin's intentions. As people were still milling around, he appeared to be speaking to French President Emmanuel Macron. He was heard on an open microphone saying: "I think he wants to make a deal for me. "Do you understand? As crazy as it sounds." Asked earlier in the Oval Office if he would rule out such deployment of US forces as peacekeepers, the president said, "We'll let you know that, maybe, later today. "We're meeting with seven great leaders of great countries, also, and we'll be talking about that." "They'll all be involved," he added. "When it comes to security, there's going to be a lot of help." Asked about "Nato-like protection" for Ukraine - an idea that had been floated by his envoy Steve Witkoff - Trump said the US would "help them out with that", referring to European leaders. Trump said: "I don't know if you define it that way, but Nato-like? I mean, we're going to give, we have people waiting in another room right now, they're all here, from Europe. "Biggest people in Europe. "And they want to give protection, they feel very strongly about it, and we'll help them out with that." Hopes for the meetings had been gloomy after Trump posted on Truth Social this morning a string of demands for Ukraine - which lined up with many of Russia's demands. They included "forgetting" about Nato membership, and ruling out returning Crimea from Russia to Ukraine. But the Oval Office appearance went smoothly - and vastly less eventfully than their disastrous last White House meeting. Trump indicated that US troops being involved in peacekeeping efforts was on the table for discussion - as was a "NATO style" security guarantee. Both Trump and Zelensky said they were ready for a trilateral meeting with Russia's ruthless dictator, Vladimir Putin. Asked by a reporter if it is the "end of the road" for U.S. support for Ukraine if no deal is struck, Trump said its "never the end of the road." Get Donald Trump updates straight to your WhatsApp! As the world attempts to keep up with Trump's antics, the Mirror has launched its very own US Politics WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news from across the pond. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "People are being killed and we want to stop that. So I would not say it's the end of the road," Trump said as Zelenskyy sat next to him shaking his head at the question. He added that there is a "good chance" of the ending the war through these meetings. "I know the president, I know myself, and I believe Vladimir Putin wants to see it end," Trump said. Trump said he was going to speak to Putin as soon as this afternoon's meetings are over.
