Diplomats prepare for White House talks on Ukraine

The European Commission president signals attendance details while allied leaders plan a Sunday Ukraine meeting ahead of White House diplomacy.

European Leaders Join Zelensky Trump Talks at White House

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen did not specify who will travel to Washington for the White House talks, even as Britain, France and Germany prepare a separate Ukraine war strategy meeting on Sunday. The White House has confirmed that President Zelensky and former president Trump will participate, signaling a broad, high-profile diplomatic push amid ongoing fighting.

On the ground, Russia said it shot down four bombs and 300 unmanned aerial vehicles in a single day, while Ukraine reported up to 100 Russian attacks in Sumy and continued shelling in Kherson. Donetsk authorities said two people were killed in Sviatohorivka as fires burned in several buildings. The day-to-day military picture remains volatile even as Western leaders prepare to coordinate their approach in Washington.

The plan to convene European leaders around Zelensky and Trump points to a coordinated Western stance that values unity. Yet attendance remains uncertain, highlighting the delicate balance between diplomacy and alliance politics as the war drags on. If attendees are limited or the agenda stays vague, the visit risks becoming a ceremonial gesture rather than a turning point.

Diplomacy faces a hard test: any credible plan must couple high-level talks with concrete steps on the ground. The gathering could pressure Moscow, but without a detailed ceasefire or accountability framework, it may deliver optics more than outcomes. Public expectations will influence domestic support for leaders as they weigh continued support against the cost of prolonged conflict.

Highlights

What happens next will test diplomacy against the realities of war.