EUROPEAN leaders will join Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington DC for crunch talks with Donald Trump, it has emerged.
Zelenskyy requested, and secured, the presence of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, French president Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Finnish president Alexander Stubb on the trip.
Downing Street confirmed on Sunday afternoon that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will also be joining the delegation.
Politico reports that the leaders confirmed their presence on the trip on Sunday, as part of a coordinated effort to show support for Ukraine. They are said to be attending to ensure key red lines are not crossed – and that Ukraine is not forced to give up territory to secure a peace deal.
It comes after Zelenskyy said that Russia was complicating efforts to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine, following a meeting between Trump and Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska.
“At the request of President Zelenskyy, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders in the White House tomorrow,” von der Leyen said in a statement.
Zelenskyy is set to arrive in Brussels on Sunday for a virtual summit with the coalition of the willing, the countries pushing for continued support for Ukraine.
The German government’s spokesperson, Stefan Kornelius, said the purpose of the visit to the Oval Office on Monday “is to exchange information with … Trump following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska”.
“Chancellor Merz will discuss the status of peace efforts with the heads of state and government and emphasise Germany’s interest in a quick peace agreement in Ukraine,” he added.
Zelenskyy’s last visit to the Oval Office made headlines around the world after the Ukrainian leader clashed with Trump and vice president JD Vance.
In the infamous clash in February, Trump called Zelenskyy “disrespectful” for seeking help from the US, with the US president shouting at the Ukrainian leader and claiming he was “gambling with millions of lives”, and suggesting his actions could trigger World War 3.
The two leaders are set to meet in the Oval Office again on Monday after Trump met with Putin on Friday. The US President claimed the two sides had agreed on “many points” but a peace plan did not materialise.
There are now concerns that Trump is in favour of a Russian land grab to end the war.
The shift in Trump’s position appears to echo the Russians’ refusal to agree to a ceasefire before engaging in peace talks.
Several news outlets have cited sources which claimed that during the negotiations Putin demanded full control of Donetsk and Luhansk – two occupied Ukrainian regions – as a condition for ending the war.
In exchange, he would give up other Ukrainian territories held by Russian troops.
Other outlets reported that Trump is inclined to support the plan, and will speak to Zelenskyy about it when they meet in the Oval Office.
