Washington, D.C. — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, with several European heads of state set to join him in an unusual display of coordinated diplomacy.
The gathering is expected to include French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is also expected to attend. Their presence reflects an effort to present a united Western position as discussions over Ukraine’s future continue.
The timing comes days after Trump’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where no settlement was reached. Putin reportedly floated a revised peace framework that would require Ukraine to withdraw from parts of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, among other demands. Trump is expected to relay those terms to Zelensky and the European delegation during Monday’s meeting.
For European leaders, joining Zelensky in Washington signals an intention to ensure that any potential deal does not leave Ukraine negotiating alone or under pressure to accept territorial concessions. Officials from Paris, Berlin, London, and Rome have all stressed that Ukraine’s sovereignty and security guarantees must be central to any agreement.
Zelensky has said publicly that he is open to Trump’s proposal for a trilateral summit involving the United States, Russia, and Ukraine, but insists Kyiv must be a full participant in shaping any arrangement. He has also underscored the need for binding commitments on security and Western support, should negotiations with Moscow resume.
The White House meeting is likely to highlight both the opportunities and risks of a renewed diplomatic track. While Western capitals are eager to test prospects for ending the war, the presence of so many leaders alongside Zelensky underscores their concern that Ukraine not be left to bargain alone over the country’s future.
