Ukraine’s future could lie in the White House meeting, which was rushed to gather on Monday. President Voldy Mie Zelensky arrives with a well-known group of European leaders and presents the united front to President Donald Trump against Russia.
The officials, who were excluded from Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last Friday, are aiming to protect Ukraine and the continent from the spread of Moscow invasion, the Associated Press reported.
The rally reflects both progress and uncertainty following Friday’s summit, with European leaders gathering in Washington with a rare display of diplomatic forces to protect Ukraine’s interests.
Prior to the talks, Trump appears to be putting pressure on Zelensky to make concessions, suggesting that Ukraine cannot regain Crimea. On Sunday night, Trump wrote on social media that Zelensky “will be able to end the war with Russia almost immediately,” adding that he “will not enter NATO by Ukraine,” adding that Crimea claimed that Russia was “given” during the Obama era.
Attendance at the meeting includes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer, German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finland President Alexander Stubb and NATO Secretary-General Mark Latte. The discussion will focus on potential security assurances like NATO to ensure peace with Russia is durable. Putin refuses Ukraine’s NATO membership, but says Trump’s team could be open to allies who promise to protect Ukraine if attacked.