by In an effort to show unity against Russia and prevent themselves from being left out of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, European leaders said Sunday that they will accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when he meets with President Trump at the White House on Monday.
Among the officials who said they would join Mr. Zelensky in Washington were French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Union Executive Arm President Ursula von der Leyen will also join.
The White House meeting on Monday follows the unsatisfying conclusion of discussions between President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and President Trump in Alaska, and amid European concerns that Mr. Trump’s thinking may have shifted in favor of Russia’s position.
Following his conversation with Mr. Putin on Saturday, Mr. Trump joined Mr. Putin in demanding a straight peace deal without first achieving a cease-fire in Ukraine. Mr. Trump asserted that European leaders and Mr. Zelensky had reached a consensus on the matter. However, his remarks deviated from the tenets that Mr. Trump, Mr. Zelensky, and his European partners had decided upon earlier in the week, which called for delaying talks on conditions of peace until a cease-fire was established.
For a long time, Russia has advocated for a direct peace agreement that would include a wide variety of topics and place heavy obligations on Ukraine, such as giving up territory. By avoiding a cease-fire, Russia would be able to maintain its military superiority in the interim.
Following the Alaska meeting, Mr. Trump had a phone conversation with Mr. Zelensky and European leaders. According to Mr. Zelensky, the lengthy and in-depth call covered the key topics of the American leader’s discussions with Mr. Putin. Mr. Zelensky stated that when he visits Mr. Trump on Monday, he will go over all the specifics of putting an end to the slaughter and the conflict.
On Sunday, European leaders were scheduled to have their own virtual conversation later in the day to discuss the war, while Mr. Zelensky was in Brussels to meet with Ms. von der Leyen.
Mr. Zelensky will be visiting the White House for the first time since he was reprimanded by President Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office in February. During that heated exchange, the American leader accused Mr. Zelensky of not being appreciative enough of U.S. support in Ukraine’s war with Russia and attempted to coerce him into signing a peace agreement on any terms the Americans demanded.
