European Leaders Seek Security Guarantees After White House Talks

European leaders pressed for security commitments for Ukraine during a White House meeting with Trump and Zelenskyy, signaling a broader push for peace in Europe.

European Leaders Seek Security Guarantees After White House Talks

Leaders from France, Germany, Finland, Italy and the United Kingdom met with Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington to push for concrete security guarantees for Ukraine and a durable peace framework. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO’s secretary general also took part in the discussions, presenting a united front on the issue.

The participants praised Trump for engaging on security guarantees while leaving room for a possible ceasefire. They warned that any next steps are complex and require careful planning, but signaled that broad European involvement would be necessary. Talks could expand to include Putin in the coming weeks, though such a meeting would need solid preparation and clear terms.

The gathering signals a shift toward stronger U.S.–European coordination on Ukraine and a willingness to frame security guarantees as a cornerstone of Europe’s political order. It also underscores a preference for real, tangible commitments rather than empty rhetoric.

Yet the road ahead is fraught. A credible ceasefire depends on mutual concessions and practical guarantees, not just political statements. Domestic politics in several countries and Russia’s calculus could reshape the pace and scope of any deal, making credibility and precise timelines the true tests of the moment.

Highlights

Diplomacy moves from talk to tangible steps in the weeks ahead.