European Leaders to Join Zelensky in Washington for Crucial Ukraine Talks with Trump

 (From L) Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission
             President Ursula Von der Leyen, Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Britain’s Prime Minister Keir
Starmer attend the European Political Community summit, in Tirana on May 16, 2025. 

Top European leaders are heading to Washington on Monday to stand with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he meets with Donald Trump for high-stakes talks on the war in Ukraine.

Among those traveling are German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, NATO’s Mark Rutte, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Alexander Stubbs. They are expected to push Trump on finding a fair path to peace as Russia’s war drags into its fourth year.

Trump’s Shift After Putin Meeting

Trump recently met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Before the summit, Trump pushed hard for a quick ceasefire in Ukraine, but no breakthrough came. Instead, Trump shifted course, saying ceasefires often fail, and argued that a final peace agreement is the only way forward. European capitals were left uneasy, viewing the change as potentially favoring Moscow.

According to reports, Putin proposed that Ukraine surrender control of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in exchange for halting Russian advances in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Zelensky flatly rejected leaving Donbas, calling Russia’s approach a stalling tactic to prepare for more offensives.

Europe’s Push for Peace

European leaders are concerned that Trump’s openness to Putin’s ideas could weaken Ukraine’s position. German officials said Chancellor Merz will stress the “urgent interest in a swift peace agreement that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty.” EU diplomat Kaja Kallas was blunt, warning that “Russia has no real intention of ending this war anytime soon.”

Zelensky, speaking from Brussels before flying to Washington, said Trump’s reversal “complicates the situation,” warning that if Russia cannot even stop its daily strikes, it will take enormous effort to get Moscow to commit to true peaceful coexistence.

What’s Next in Washington

The focus now shifts to Monday’s White House meetings, where Zelensky and the European leaders aim to convince Trump to maintain firm support for Ukraine. Their challenge is steep: Zelensky’s last Oval Office visit earlier this year turned tense, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly criticizing Kyiv for not showing enough gratitude for U.S. aid.

Trump has hinted that responsibility now lies with Zelensky to “get the deal done” and move toward a possible trilateral summit with Putin sometime in the future.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the war shows no sign of slowing. Over the weekend, both Ukraine and Russia launched fresh drone strikes against each other’s cities.

Why This Meeting Matters

The Washington talks could shape the future of peace negotiations, U.S.-Europe unity, and the overall balance of power in Europe. With Zelensky, Trump, and Europe’s top leaders at the table, the world is closely watching whether this moment brings real progress—or just more uncertainty. Source- Kyivpost

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