Several top European leaders are set to join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington, D.C., for a high-level meeting with President Trump. The gathering underscores a coordinated push to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine while pressuring Moscow toward a credible peace process.
The European delegation includes British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Their presence highlights the importance Europe places on Ukraine’s sovereignty and the belief that any negotiated peace must fully involve Kyiv.
The meeting follows reports from the Alaska summit between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, where Moscow floated proposals for peace that would require Ukraine to give up territory. European officials have expressed strong opposition to any deal that rewards Russian aggression or undermines Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Instead, leaders are calling for binding U.S. security guarantees to protect Ukraine against further attacks.
According to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Washington is prepared to extend NATO-style security assurances—similar to Article 5 protections—without granting full NATO membership. Such guarantees would commit the United States and allies to Ukraine’s defense in the event of renewed aggression, a step seen as critical to stabilizing the region.
