Ukraine talks in Washington

European leaders accompany Zelensky to Washington for an hour‑long meeting with Trump to shape Ukraine path

Ukraine Talks Test Trump Zelensky Ties and European Backing

European leaders including Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, Giorgia Meloni and Alexander Stubb travel to Washington to join President Zelensky for what officials call a decisive hour‑long discussion with President Trump. The gathering follows a tense period after a February clash at the White House that unsettled Ukraine aid and raised questions about coalition cohesion. U.S. aides and European diplomats describe the visit as a chance to present a united front while preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Trump has signaled a hard line in the run‑up to the talks, pressing Kyiv to consider concessions on Donbas and Crimea and to accept that Ukraine will not join NATO. Zelensky has repeatedly asserted Kyiv’s right to defend its territory and has kept the door open to dialogue, arguing that peace must be lasting and freely chosen by Ukraine. Background to the meeting includes recent diplomacy in the Vatican and a separate Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin, events that have shaped expectations and tone ahead of Monday’s discussions.

This meeting is a test of alliance stamina more than a simple policy shift. Europe’s role as Kyiv’s backer is evident in the large‑scale presence, yet the group’s real leverage remains limited if the White House remains determined to steer the peace process toward concessions Kyiv may not accept. The dynamic shows how domestic politics in Washington and public mood in European capitals can distort strategic aims, turning negotiations into a public relay race where signals matter as much as outcomes.

At stake is Ukraine’s future security guarantees, NATO membership prospects and the risk that a transactional approach from Washington could redefine long‑running commitments. A clear takeaway will be whether European leaders can convert flattery and diplomacy into tangible support that Kyiv can use at the negotiating table, or if the talk ends as another chorus of caution without a durable plan.

Highlights

The week ahead will test how far alliance words travel toward real protection for Ukraine