Trump fuels concerns about ceding Ukraine land to Putin despite security guarantees
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be joined by at least six other European leaders in the high-stakes talks in the hope of persuading Trump to wield sanctions and other penalties against Russia to enforce a peace deal on better terms for Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a ceasefire and wants a peace agreement that cements Moscow's control of large stretches of eastern and southern Ukraine.
Zelensky has rejected giving up territory and declared in Brussels on Sunday that his country's constitution did not allow him to do so, but he also signalled that the current front line should be the starting point for a negotiation.
Trump and Zelensky clashed in the White House in February, when the American president complained that the Ukrainian leader would not accept a peace deal with Putin, and this raised fears in Europe of another confrontation on Monday.
With Trump airing the idea that Ukraine should give up territory, the European leaders increased their support for Zelensky over the weekend by deciding to send at least six of their number to join him at the White House.
The group comprises French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Trump complained on Sunday in Washington DC that he was not being given enough credit for progress on a peace deal after his summit with Putin in Alaska last week.
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