European leaders are set to arrive in Washington by Monday to press for an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Following a summit between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday, Trump is also scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
Trump said an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine was unlikely after a summit with Putin failed to reach a conclusion. Ukraine and its European allies have criticized Putin’s stance as a waste of time but a new strategy that would accelerate Russia’s battlefield progress.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merkel and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte are set to travel to Washington for extensive discussions with Trump on Ukraine and a campaign to create an atmosphere that will put him on Ukraine’s side. The visiting delegation will also include Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubbs.
The German government confirmed Chancellor Merkel’s visit to the United States, saying Germany would try to “focus on a quick peace agreement in Ukraine.” Trump is expected to brief Zelensky and European leaders on his talks with Putin on his return to Washington from Alaska.
“The best way to end the war between Russia and Ukraine is to go straight to a peace agreement that will end the war,” Trump wrote on his own social media platform, Truth Social. “Ceasefire agreements often don’t hold up.”
Reacting to Trump and Putin’s Alaskan talks, Zelensky said on Saturday, “This change has complicated the situation. If Moscow has the will to issue a simple order to stop an attack, then Russia can do much more to have the will to peacefully coexist with its neighbors for decades.” European leaders have been expressing unease about Trump’s contacts with Putin from the beginning.
The leaders of France, Germany and Britain held a virtual meeting on Sunday to set a common agenda for discussions on ending the war in Ukraine. Ukraine and its European partners have expressed concern that the talks between Trump and Putin are a strategy to buy time for Russia’s military action. Returning to Washington from Alaska, Trump said that a direct peace deal could be reached to end the war if all sides agree.
According to an official, Trump has expressed support for Putin’s proposal during the talks, according to which Russia wants to take full control of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine and in exchange has proposed a ceasefire in some areas of southern Ukraine. But the Ukrainian side has disagreed with leaving Donbas.
The Ukrainian president’s visit to Washington on Monday is expected to be a major diplomatic event. Zelensky’s visit to the White House in February was tense, but this time the two sides are expected to have a positive dialogue. After “intensive” talks with Trump on Saturday, Zelensky said, “I am excited to go to Washington and am willing to discuss in detail all issues related to ending the war.”
Even as talks continue, Russia’s military operations in Ukraine continue. Kiev said on Saturday that Russia had carried out 85 drone strikes and one missile strike overnight.
