Zelensky's White House Summit: Trump, Starmer, and the EU's High Stakes

European Leaders to Meet with Trump and Zelensky at the White House

European leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer, will join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a high-stakes meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. This gathering marks a significant moment in international diplomacy, as it brings together key figures from Europe and Ukraine to address ongoing tensions in the region.

The prime minister will travel to Washington alongside several European leaders, showcasing solidarity with Zelensky, whose previous visit to the Oval Office ended in a tense confrontation with Trump. The meeting is expected to be crucial in shaping future discussions about the conflict in Ukraine and the potential for peace negotiations.

Key Details of the Meeting

Trump is set to meet Zelensky at 1 p.m. local time and hold a bilateral engagement with him at 1:15 p.m. Later, he will meet the delegation of European leaders at 2:15 p.m. in the State Dining Room. A multilateral meeting with the European leaders is planned for 3 p.m., according to the White House.

This summit comes shortly after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. During that meeting, Putin reportedly demanded that Ukraine cede the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as a condition for ending the war. It is said that Trump privately endorsed this proposal, which has been strongly resisted by Kyiv.

Preparations and Expectations

In the days leading up to the meeting, Trump put pressure on Zelensky to agree to concessions, suggesting that Ukraine could not regain Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Zelensky has warned that Russia’s refusal to halt hostilities before agreeing to a settlement would complicate any attempt at securing lasting peace. He emphasized that stopping the killing is essential to stopping the war.

Downing Street stated that Sir Keir and other leaders are ready to support the next phase of talks and will stress their continued backing for Ukraine “as long as it takes.”

Who Will Attend?

Several European leaders have confirmed their attendance, including:

• Sir Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister
• Emmanuel Macron, French President
• Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor
• Alexander Stubb, President of Finland
• Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
• Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General
• Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s Prime Minister

Zelensky is traveling with strong support after participating in a coalition call on Sunday afternoon, hosted by the UK, France, and Germany. This so-called “coalition of the willing” aims to provide security guarantees, including policing any future peace deal with troops on the ground in Ukraine.

Topics to Be Discussed

The talks are expected to cover territorial questions, including Russia’s demand for Ukraine to cede Donetsk and Luhansk. They are also expected to address security guarantees for Ukraine, which could be backed by U.S. air power. The role of NATO and European allies in enforcing a settlement is likely to be discussed, along with sanction pressures on Russia.

European leaders want to ensure Ukraine is at the table for all negotiations. Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that international borders cannot be changed by force and that decisions must be made by Ukraine alone.

Russia’s Demands

At the Alaska summit, Putin reportedly insisted that Ukraine must surrender Donetsk and Luhansk in full, abandon its NATO aspirations, and declare neutrality. He offered to freeze the front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Around 88% of the Donbas is under Russian control, and Russia controls nearly 44,600 square miles or 19% of Ukraine in total, including the Crimean peninsula.

Zelensky has rejected the idea of handing over territory, insisting that talks must be based on current front lines and begin with a ceasefire. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, reported that Putin agreed to allow the U.S. and its European allies to offer Ukraine a security guarantee.

Previous Meeting Between Zelensky and Trump

Their previous Oval Office meeting in February ended in a dramatic confrontation. A planned mineral deal signing ceremony collapsed as Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of being “ungrateful” and “gambling with World War III.” Zelensky pushed back, insisting there could be “no compromises with a killer” – a reference to Putin.

The meeting was cut short, the joint press conference canceled, and Trump declared afterward that Zelensky could “come back when he is ready for peace,” temporarily suspending aid to Ukraine.