European Leaders Unite with Zelenskyy for Trump Meeting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on August 18, 2025, accompanied by several European leaders. Joining him will be French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The meeting aims to address ongoing peace efforts and security guarantees for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia.

In a social media post on X, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed her participation at Zelenskyy’s request. She wrote, “This afternoon, I will welcome @ZelenskyyUa in Brussels. Together, we will participate in the Coalition of Willing VTC. At the request of President Zelenskyy, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders in the White House tomorrow.”

Chancellor Merz echoed this sentiment in his own post, stating that the leaders would discuss the status of peace efforts, security guarantees, territorial issues, and further support for Ukraine. His post on X read, “Tomorrow I will travel with President @ZelenskyyUa and other European heads of state and government to Washington. We will exchange views with US President Trump.”

Additionally, Finnish President Alexander Stubb will participate in the discussions. The Finnish presidential office announced, “President of the Republic of Finland @AlexStubb will participate in a meeting on peace in Ukraine on Monday, August 18, 2025, in Washington D.C., United States.”

This high-profile meeting follows a significant bilateral discussion between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where they explored avenues for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Russian economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev remarked that the US received Russia “very well” during the talks and that both nations would strive to enhance their relations despite existing challenges.

European leaders have expressed their support for Trump’s proposal for a “trilateral summit” involving the United States, Russia, and Ukraine as a means to advance efforts to end the ongoing conflict. In a joint statement, leaders including von der Leyen, Macron, Meloni, Merz, Starmer, Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and European Council President Antonio Costa endorsed Trump’s initiative following his recent discussions with Putin.

The meeting at the White House represents a critical moment in international diplomacy concerning Ukraine, as European leaders seek to align their strategies with the United States to foster lasting peace in the region.