Zelensky, European leaders to meet with Trump in Washington

Following the U.S.-Russian summit in Alaska, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday to discuss further steps towards ending the war in Ukraine.

He would be accompanied by European allies, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb have also said they will attend.

Prior to the meeting, Zelensky called for NATO-style security guarantees for his country.

According to U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, a pledge of support similar to that within NATO is being discussed, which the United States and European countries could provide, though not within the framework of the alliance.

After his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, Trump backed away from his central demand for a ceasefire as a condition for peace negotiations.

Instead, he wants to talk directly about a peace agreement in line with Putin’s wishes.

However, ideas on this still differ widely.

Russia continues to demand that Ukraine relinquish territories, which Zelensky has categorically denied. (dpa/NAN)