European leaders to meet Trump on Ukraine

European leaders join Zelenskyy in Washington to oppose a peace plan that could cede Ukrainian territory

European Leaders Gather in Washington for Talks with Trump

In Washington, Zelenskyy will meet Donald Trump in the Oval Office, joined by Britain’s Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Finland’s Alexander Stubb, and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni. They aim to push back on a US endorsed peace plan that would allow Russia to seize more Ukrainian territory. The group will also hold a video call with other European allies on Sunday to align positions on security guarantees and sanctions.

The talks come as Kyiv and European officials warn that a direct peace deal without a ceasefire could give Moscow the upper hand. Trump has floated a straight path to settlement, a stance that has alarmed allies who want to preserve Ukraine's borders and the integrity of international norms.

The gathering shows how tightly Western unity still binds allies, even as some voices push back against concessions that could redefine borders. If the US leans toward a direct deal, it could shift long-standing strategy away from sanctions and diplomatic pressure toward quick settlements with Russia.

The risk is real that a rushed agreement without a ceasefire could entrench Moscow gains and fracture the coalition that has supplied arms and aid to Kyiv. The week ahead will test whether a broad alliance can hold together or fracture under competing visions of peace and leverage.

Highlights

The coming days will reveal how far Western unity can hold under differing views of peace and security.