Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and top European leaders are set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday in a bid to solidify Western support for Kyiv amid concerns that Trump may push for a peace deal favoring Russia. The leaders of Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Finland, the EU, and NATO aim to present a united front, hoping to avoid a repeat of February’s tense Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskiy. The Ukrainian president will hold a one-on-one discussion with Trump before joining a broader session with European counterparts later in the day.
The talks come just days after Trump hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where he suggested that Zelenskiy could “end the war almost immediately” if he chose to. However, Kyiv has already rejected Putin’s proposed terms, which include ceding more territory in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region. “We need real negotiations based on current front lines,” Zelenskiy reiterated in Brussels on Sunday, stressing that Ukraine’s constitution prohibits territorial concessions. The Ukrainian leader’s stance sets the stage for a potentially contentious meeting with Trump, who has recently shifted toward backing Russia’s preference for a comprehensive settlement rather than an immediate ceasefire.
European leaders, wary of being sidelined in U.S.-led negotiations, held urgent consultations with Zelenskiy on Sunday to coordinate their approach. Their presence at Monday’s talks is seen as crucial in bolstering Ukraine’s position and tempering any unilateral pressure from Washington. “Trump respects European leaders—his tone changes when they’re in the room,” said Oleksandr Merezhko, a Ukrainian lawmaker from Zelenskiy’s party. The discussions will also focus on Kyiv’s demand for robust security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression, a key condition for any lasting peace.
With Ukraine’s forces entrenched in defensive positions across Donetsk, the prospect of territorial concessions remains politically and militarily untenable for Zelenskiy. Meanwhile, Trump’s recent rhetoric has raised alarms in Kyiv, where officials fear a rushed settlement could undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty. “Russia must end this war—the war it started,” Zelenskiy declared upon arriving in Washington, expressing hope that transatlantic unity would compel Moscow toward a “real peace.” As the high-stakes diplomacy unfolds, the outcome could reshape the trajectory of Europe’s deadliest conflict in decades.
