Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to visit Washington on Monday for vital talks with US President Donald Trump aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. This development follows a lengthy phone call on Saturday morning between President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, alongside key European leaders, to address the aftermath of the recent Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.
Macron’s conversation with Trump, which lasted over an hour, also included German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The call came just one day after the Trump-Putin summit ended without a ceasefire agreement or significant breakthrough to halt the conflict in Ukraine.
During the discussion, European leaders expressed cautious optimism but urged the US to prioritise Ukraine’s sovereignty and security in any negotiations with Moscow. Macron described the conversation with Trump as clarifying his intentions, while Chancellor Merz emphasised the need to involve Zelensky in future peace efforts.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also joined the call, underscoring the alliance’s ongoing concern about the war.
Trump-Putin summit ends without Ukraine deal
Zelensky confirmed that he had a substantive conversation with Trump the previous day, starting as a one-on-one discussion before European leaders joined in. He called for European allies to remain engaged at every stage of the peace process and reiterated his readiness to take part in a trilateral summit with Trump and Putin—something the Kremlin has so far resisted.
The Alaska summit marked the first meeting between Putin and Trump since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Although both sides described their discussions as constructive, no concrete ceasefire or peace deal was announced. Trump indicated that progress had been made on sensitive issues such as territory and security guarantees, but stressed that Ukrainian agreement was essential—something Zelensky has consistently refused if it involves conceding territory.
European leaders have warned against any settlement that compromises Ukraine’s territorial integrity, stressing that Russia cannot be trusted to uphold peace terms without strict enforcement and ongoing pressure.
With the war entering its fourth year, the situation remains tense, and the forthcoming meeting in Washington will be pivotal to shaping the next phase of diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict to an end.
(With newswires)
