Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of trying to humiliate Ukraine and Europe by “deliberately killing civilians” before talks with Donald Trump in the White House to be attended by Ukraine’s president and a group of European leaders.
Zelenskyy described the latest strikes by Moscow on four Ukrainian cities as “demonstrative and cynical”. At least seven people were killed in a drone attack on Kharkiv, including a small girl, while three were killed in another bombing in Zaporizhzhia, he said.
The Russians were “aware that a meeting is taking place today in Washington that will address the end of the war”, Zelenskyy posted on X. “[Vladimir] Putin will commit demonstrative killings to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe, as well as to humiliate diplomatic efforts.”
He said Ukraine required an end to the war, reliable security guarantees, and a just and “dignified peace”, adding: “Moscow must hear the word stop.”
Russia’s latest attacks come amid signs that Trump is likely to put pressure on Zelenskyy to accept a peace deal in which Russia would gain land it has been unable since 2014 to occupy. The US president has ruled out allowing Ukraine to join Nato or retake Russian-occupied Crimea as part of the negotiations.
Hours before he was due to meet the leaders of Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the EU and Nato, Trump posted on Truth Social that it was a “big day at the White House”.
He added: “We have never had so many European Leaders here at one time. A great honor for America!!! Lets see what the results will be??? President DJT.”
In another post on Sunday night, Trump said Zelenskyy could “end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and no going into Nato by Ukraine. Some things never change!!!”
In a video clip recorded from his plane to Washington, Keir Starmer said “everybody” wanted the war to end, not least Ukrainians. But he added: “We’ve got to get this right. We’ve got to make sure there is peace, that it is lasting peace, and that it is fair and that it is just.”
Downing Street played down expectations that an agreement would be signed on Monday. A spokesperson welcomed the fact that the US had offered to provide security guarantees, a commitment made public over the weekend by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.
They would not comment on Trump’s apparent peace plan, which envisages handing the entirety of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts to Russia, including a fortress-belt of cities Russia has been unable to conquer. The UK was no longer pushing for an immediate ceasefire, Downing Street added.
The prime minister and European leaders are keen to avoid a repeat of the public mauling of Zelenskyy during his previous trip to the White House, in February, when Trump and the US vice-president, JD Vance, accused him of ingratitude and told him: “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now.”
According to ABC News, Vance will take part in discussions with Zelenskyy on Monday.
Arriving in Washington late on Sunday, Zelenskyy said he hoped Ukraine’s “shared strength” with the US and European counterparts would compel Russia to peace.
“I am grateful to the president of the United States for the invitation. We all equally want to end this war swiftly and reliably,” Zelenskyy posted on Telegram. “And I hope that our shared strength with America and with our European friends will compel Russia to real peace.”
Trump will meet first with Zelenskyy at 1.15pm EDT (6.15pm UK time) in the Oval Office, and then with the European leaders in the East Room at 3pm, the White House said.
Even before Trump’s remarks on Sunday, Zelenskyy faced a daunting task of reversing the damage done to Ukraine’s security prospects by the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska on Friday.
Earlier, Trump accused the media of misrepresenting his “great meeting in Alaska” – an encounter widely seen as a victory for Putin and a humiliation for the US president.
European leaders on Monday will reaffirm their support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and argue against any land deal that rewards Russian aggression. They will also seek further clarity on what security guarantees the US is willing to offer in the event of a settlement. Witkoff has said these would be outside Nato but similar to the alliance’s self-defence pact, article 5.
The European leaders will hold a preparatory meeting with Zelenskyy before talks with Trump, the EU said.
Yuriy Boyechko, the chief executive of the charity Hope for Ukraine, said the country’s constitution meant it could not legally cede territory to Russia. Putin had offered a “peace deal” Ukraine would be forced to reject, knowing Trump would then blame Zelenskyy and end US support for Kyiv.
Boyechko added: “Monday is the day when Ukraine and its European allies must recognise the urgent need to develop their own strategy to defend Ukraine and secure peace in Europe – because it is increasingly likely that Trump will walk away from the peace negotiations.”
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s envoy to international organisations in Vienna, said early on Monday that Russia agreed that any future Ukraine peace agreement must provide security guarantees to Kyiv, but that Russia “has equal right to expect that Moscow will also get efficient security guarantees”.
