Ahead of Zelensky Trump talks European leaders head to Washington

European leaders join Zelensky in Washington to meet Donald Trump as part of a broader display of Western unity ahead of potential peace talks.

European leaders unite with Zelensky in Washington for talks with Trump after Alaska showdown

European leaders including Keir Starmer, Ursula von der Leyen, Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron will travel to Washington to join Volodymyr Zelensky for a White House meeting with Donald Trump. The trip follows a joint video call labeled a coalition of the willing, scheduled for this afternoon, and signals a coordinated push for possible terms on ending the war in Ukraine. Also joining are Finnish president Alexander Stubb, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte, underscoring a broad show of solidarity.

The discussions come against a backdrop of shifting signals from the Alaska summit, where Trump and Vladimir Putin discussed a fast track to a peace deal that could involve concessions on Ukrainian territory. Zelensky has criticized Russia for refusing to pause the fighting and has urged allies to maintain pressure for a ceasefire as part of any settlement. The meeting in Washington will test how European leaders balance backing Ukraine with pressures from domestic audiences and alliance colleagues who seek measurable progress on security and stability.

The gathering in Washington is less about a single agreement than about signaling an aligned front. European leaders are signaling they will stand with Zelensky, while maintaining room for national voices on military aid, sanctions and diplomatic tempo. The Alaska conversations show how quickly the dynamics can pivot toward a deal that might require Ukraine to make territorial concessions, a move that could provoke public unease at home even among staunch supporters. The risk for Kyiv and its supporters is to avoid a hollow display of unity that yields vague promises rather than a concrete path to peace. The broader question is whether a high-profile electoral audience in Washington can translate into durable, enforceable terms on the ground in Ukraine.

Highlights

The coming days will test whether this show of unity translates into a credible pathway to peace.