European leaders to join Zelenskyy for White House meeting with Trump
The move comes amid concerns in Kyiv and across Europe that Trump's push for a peace deal with Russia could pressure Zelenskyy into accepting unfavorable terms.
The joint appearance aims to ensure a united front and prevent a repeat of the tense Oval Office encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy in February.
Von der Leyen said on social media platform X that her participation, along with other European leaders, followed a request from Zelenskyy.
"In support of Ukraine and at the request of President Zelenskyy, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders in the White House tomorrow," she wrote.
Shortly after her announcement, several high-level European figures confirmed they would also be attending.
Among them were French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The coordinated diplomatic push reflects European leaders' determination to remain central in negotiations over Ukraine's future.
Their presence also signals strong transatlantic backing for Kyiv following Friday's summit in Alaska between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which excluded Zelenskyy and ended without a ceasefire agreement.
Trump has since suggested that a direct peace agreement — not a ceasefire — is the best path forward, drawing concerns in Europe that Russia could exploit such a strategy to continue its aggression while talks unfold.
Monday's meeting is expected to focus on security guarantees for Ukraine, European participation in any future settlement talks, and efforts to forge a united diplomatic path ahead. — Agencies
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
an hour ago
- Saudi Gazette
Zelenskyy says territorial issues to be discussed in future trilateral summit
WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that 'territorial issues' will be on the agenda of a proposed trilateral summit involving the United States and Russia, talks that U.S. President Donald Trump is working to organize. Speaking alongside Trump and EU leaders during high-stakes meetings in Washington, Zelenskyy said the group discussed 'very sensitive points,' including security guarantees and humanitarian concerns. 'What is very important is that all the sensitive things — territorial, etc. — we will discuss on the level of leaders during the trilateral meeting,' Zelenskyy said. According to Zelenskyy, Trump pledged to push for such a format. 'President Trump will try to organize such a meeting, and he said that whether he will come or not come, Ukraine will be happy if you participate,' he added, addressing EU leaders present. Zelenskyy also expressed gratitude for U.S. support on both security and humanitarian tracks. 'This is very important, that the United States gives such a strong signal and is ready for security guarantees,' he said. His remarks came days after Trump held a landmark summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska — their first face-to-face meeting since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022. The meeting has set the stage for what could be the most serious diplomatic effort yet to end the 3½-year conflict. While Trump has signaled openness to a peace deal involving territorial concessions, Zelenskyy has thus far ruled out any swaps, insisting that negotiations must include firm guarantees for Ukraine's sovereignty, defense, and humanitarian needs. The proposed trilateral summit is expected to include direct participation from Putin, though the Russian president has yet to confirm his involvement. — Agencies
Saudi Gazette
an hour ago
- Saudi Gazette
Trump, Zelenskyy and European leaders push for Putin talks to end Ukraine war
WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism Monday that their summit with European leaders at the White House could soon lead to direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end Moscow's war in Ukraine. The hastily convened meeting — attended by top European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz — marked a rare show of unity aimed at charting a diplomatic path toward ending the 3½-year conflict. 'I think President Putin wants to find an answer, too,' Trump told Zelenskyy and the gathered leaders. 'In a week or two, we'll know whether we're going to solve this or if this horrible fighting will continue.' While Trump stopped short of pledging U.S. troop involvement, he floated a "NATO-like" security commitment to Ukraine and said those guarantees would be coordinated with the EU. 'They want to give protection and they feel very strongly about it,' Trump said, adding, 'We'll help them out with that. I think it's very important to get the deal done.' The mood stood in contrast to the pair's previous Oval Office meeting in February, which had ended abruptly over what Trump described as Zelenskyy's lack of gratitude for U.S. aid. This time, Zelenskyy presented Trump with a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska, addressed to First Lady Melania Trump. Melania had previously written to Putin appealing for an end to the war, citing its toll on children. At one point, Trump joked about Ukraine delaying elections due to the war, saying a similar situation wouldn't be tolerated in the United States. Ukrainian law prohibits presidential elections under martial law. Zelenskyy appeared in more formal attire than in previous visits — a symbolic gesture addressing past criticism. After a one-on-one session between Trump and Zelenskyy, the broader meeting included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Although the European bloc had been excluded from Trump's earlier summit with Putin in Alaska, they arrived in Washington determined to safeguard Ukraine's interests and push for meaningful U.S. security guarantees. Trump suggested Ukraine might never reclaim Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, and repeated his belief that peace could come swiftly if Kyiv agreed to territorial concessions. 'President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to,' Trump wrote Sunday on social media. Zelenskyy countered with a post affirming the need for 'lasting peace,' rejecting any repeat of past compromises that emboldened further Russian aggression. European leaders stressed the need for a ceasefire and encouraged Trump to secure one in future trilateral talks. 'I would like to see a ceasefire from the next meeting, which should be a trilateral meeting,' German Chancellor Merz said. Trump confirmed he would speak with Putin after the day's meetings, and said the next step could be direct three-party talks. 'If everything works out today, we'll have a trilat,' he told reporters. NATO's Rutte described Trump's security assurances as 'a breakthrough,' though precise details of U.S. commitments remain unclear. European officials said Putin is still seeking full control of the Donbas, a demand Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected as unconstitutional and dangerous. Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine's two-fold security need: a strong domestic army and a binding international security guarantee. He urged the EU, NATO and the U.S. to finalize concrete support mechanisms. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said a NATO-style mutual defense pact was under discussion, but talks remain ongoing. — Agencies
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Zelensky arrives at White House for high-stakes talks with Trump
WASHINGTON: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was greeted by US President Donald Trump at the White House Monday ahead of high-stakes talks aimed at bridging big differences over a peace deal with Russia. The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Finland, as well as NATO chief Mark Rutte and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, also arrived for the talks, demonstrating support for Ukraine as Trump presses Kyiv to make concessions. Air raid sirens sounded over Kyiv on Monday, AFP journalists heard, at the same time as the Europeans were arriving. Russian strikes overnight killed at least seven people. Following his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week, Trump said Ukraine must give up Crimea and abandon its NATO ambitions — two of Moscow's top demands. Zelensky was scheduled for a one-on-one with Trump in the Oval Office, scene of an astonishing meeting in February February when the US president and his deputy JD Vance publicly berated the Ukrainian. Trump will later meet separately with the European leaders. Trump, 79, said it was a 'big day at the White House' but appeared to be in a combative mood, churning out a string of social media posts. 'I know exactly what I'm doing,' the Republican said on his Truth Social network. 'And I don't need the advice of people who have been working on all of these conflicts for years, and were never able to do a thing to stop them.' The European leaders held a preparatory meeting with the Ukrainian president in Washington on Monday morning, while Zelensky also met Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg. Zelensky described the talks at the White House as 'very serious' — and sought to flatter Trump ahead of the meeting, by echoing his trademark 'peace through strength' language. 'President Trump has that strength. We have to do everything right to make peace happen,' he said. Zelensky later called on social media for a 'reliable and lasting peace for Ukraine and for the whole of Europe' and said they would discuss Western security guarantees for Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters on the plane to Washington: 'We've got to make sure there is peace, that it is lasting peace, and that it is fair and that it is just.' Reports had said Putin would be open to Western security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of any peace deal — but had ruled out Kyiv's long-term ambition to join NATO. Russia kept up its attacks on Ukraine ahead of the new talks, killing at least seven people, including two children, in dozens of drone and ballistic missile strikes overnight, Ukrainian officials said. The Trump-Putin summit in Alaska failed to produce a ceasefire in the nearly three-and-a-half-year war that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. After, Trump dropped his previous insistence on a ceasefire in favor of seeking a complete peace deal, meaning negotiations could proceed while the war goes on. He also alarmed Kyiv and European capitals by repeating a number of Russian talking points. Trump said Sunday that Zelensky could end the war 'almost immediately, if he wants to' but that, for Ukraine, there was 'no getting back' Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and 'NO GOING INTO NATO.' US media reports have said Putin would consider freezing much of the current frontline in Ukraine if Kyiv agreed to completely give up the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff said Moscow had made 'some concessions' on territory. But such a move is widely viewed as unacceptable for Ukraine, which still holds much of the resource-rich area. Yevgeniy Sosnovsky, a photographer from the captured Ukrainian city of Mariupol, said he 'cannot understand' how Ukraine would cede land already under its control. 'Ukraine cannot give up any territories, not even those occupied by Russia,' he told AFP. Kyiv and European leaders have warned against making political and territorial concessions to Russia, whose assault on Ukraine has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.
