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

European Leaders to Meet with Trump in Washington

European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, are set to join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a high-stakes meeting with former US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. The gathering is intended to show solidarity with Zelensky, who previously faced a tense encounter with Trump during his last visit to the Oval Office.

The meeting will take place at 1pm local time, with a bilateral engagement scheduled for 1:15pm. Trump will then meet with the delegation of European leaders at 2:15pm in the State Dining Room, followed by a multilateral meeting with them at 3pm, as announced by the White House.

This summit comes just days after Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where it was reported that Putin demanded Ukraine cede the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as a condition for ending the war. Trump reportedly supported this proposal, a move that has been strongly opposed by Kyiv. Before the White House meeting, Trump suggested to Zelensky that Ukraine might not be able to reclaim Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

Zelensky has warned that Russia’s refusal to halt hostilities before agreeing to a settlement would complicate any peace efforts. He emphasized that stopping the killing is essential to stopping the war. Downing Street stated that Starmer and other leaders are ready to support the next phase of talks and will continue their backing for Ukraine “as long as it takes.”

Who Is Attending the Meeting?

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 will travel with strong support following a coalition call 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.

What Will Be Discussed?

The talks are expected to focus on territorial issues, particularly Russia’s demand for Ukraine to cede Donetsk and Luhansk. Security guarantees for Ukraine, potentially backed by US air power, will also be a key topic. The role of NATO and European allies in enforcing a settlement, along with sanction pressures on Russia, will likely be discussed.

European leaders want to ensure that Ukraine is included in all negotiations. Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that international borders cannot be changed by force and that decisions about Ukraine must be made by Ukraine itself. She also mentioned the possibility of setting up a trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky to ensure Ukraine has a seat at the table.

What Are Russia’s Demands?

At the Alaska summit, Putin reportedly insisted that Ukraine 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 region is under Russian control, with nearly 44,600 square miles or 19% of Ukraine under Russian occupation, including Crimea.

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, said Putin agreed to allow the US and its European allies to offer Ukraine a security guarantee. He called this a “game-changing” development, as it marks the first time Russia has agreed to such a proposal.

What Happened the Last Time Zelensky Met Trump?

Their previous meeting in February ended in a dramatic confrontation. A planned mineral deal signing collapsed when Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of being “ungrateful” and “gambling with World War III.” Zelensky pushed back, calling Putin a “killer” and rejecting compromises. The meeting was cut short, and the press conference was canceled. Trump temporarily suspended aid to Ukraine and declared that Zelensky could return when he was ready for peace.