Trump to Meet Zelenskyy, Europe’s Leaders Over Russia War/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House with top European leaders to press Donald Trump for stronger commitments against Russia. The high-stakes meeting follows Trump’s Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin, where the U.S. president echoed Kremlin positions. As Russia escalates attacks, Ukraine and allies push for NATO-like guarantees to secure lasting peace.
Zelenskyy, Europe’s Leaders, and Trump: Quick Looks
- Zelenskyy meets Trump with a powerful bloc of European leaders.
- Leaders excluded from Trump’s Alaska summit with Putin seek influence.
- Trump signals skepticism about Ukraine reclaiming Crimea or joining NATO.
- Zelenskyy insists peace must be lasting, not temporary.
- NATO-style defense guarantees discussed as possible compromise.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio says “full peace deal” is goal.
- European leaders stress weakness now could embolden Putin further.
- Russia continues missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities.
- Civilian deaths mount as war grinds into its 23rd month.
- Monday’s White House talks may shape Ukraine’s survival strategy.
Deep Look: Ukraine’s Future at Stake as Zelenskyy and Europe Face Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukraine’s survival and Europe’s security converged in Washington on Monday as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House alongside a rare coalition of European leaders, determined to push Donald Trump toward stronger commitments against Russian aggression.
The gathering marks a pivotal moment in the two-year-old war, coming just days after Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. That meeting, hailed by the Kremlin as a diplomatic win, left European capitals rattled. Now, Zelenskyy and Europe’s heavyweights are showing up in person — hoping to keep Ukraine’s fight from slipping further down Washington’s agenda.
A United Front After Alaska
The group includes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Their joint appearance is designed to send a message: Europe stands together behind Ukraine.
“We all equally want to end this war quickly and reliably,” Zelenskyy posted before the meetings, adding that “true peace” must prevent future Russian attacks.
Trump, however, has shown little inclination to back Ukraine’s maximalist positions. On Sunday, he wrote online that Zelenskyy could “end the war almost immediately” if he were willing to concede Crimea and renounce NATO membership — echoing Kremlin red lines.
Security Guarantees on the Table
At issue is whether Ukraine can secure NATO-like security guarantees short of full alliance membership. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described it as a “very big move” that could assure Kyiv of Western defense commitments without triggering direct NATO expansion.
“How that’s constructed, what we call it, how it’s built — that’s what we’ll be talking about over the next few days,” Rubio said on NBC’s Meet the Press.
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed such an arrangement was under consideration, though Putin has insisted Ukraine formally surrender territory in Donbas and Crimea.
War on the Ground
Even as leaders met in Washington, Russia escalated attacks.
- A drone strike on Kharkiv killed seven civilians and injured 20 more.
- Missiles struck Zaporizhzhia, wounding at least 17.
- The Ukrainian Air Force reported intercepting 88 of 140 drones launched overnight, alongside four ballistic missiles.
These assaults underline what Macron warned: Europe cannot afford weakness. “If we are weak with Russia today, we’ll be preparing the conflicts of tomorrow,” he said.
Europe Steps In
The optics are striking: European leaders deliberately excluded from the Alaska summit now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Zelenskyy in Washington. They hope to avoid another February-style humiliation, when Trump publicly berated Zelenskyy in the Oval Office.
The European Union and the UK, wary of losing American backing, have already accepted Trump’s tariff hikes in hopes of securing his cooperation on Ukraine. Monday’s gathering is both a diplomatic show of force and a plea for reassurance.
The Tough Path for Zelenskyy
Behind the scenes, officials acknowledge Zelenskyy faces perhaps his toughest diplomatic balancing act yet. If he rejects Putin’s territorial demands outright, he risks being portrayed as an obstacle to peace. If he concedes, he could fracture domestic support and embolden Moscow further.
An official close to Kyiv’s delegation described the strategy as “walking a tightrope”: maintaining constitutional principles while avoiding blame for prolonging the war.
Trump’s Ambition: A Legacy Deal
Trump has framed his approach less as support for Ukraine’s sovereignty than as a desire to end the conflict under his presidency. He no longer insists on a ceasefire as a precondition for talks — a shift aligned with Putin’s preferences.
Still, his administration touts the idea of a “full peace deal” as the only viable outcome. Rubio predicted six to seven hours of intense talks this week to hammer out details.
For Zelenskyy, who has already weathered public clashes with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, the stakes could not be higher.
What Comes Next
Whether Monday’s meeting yields concrete commitments or simply political theater, it underscores a central truth: Ukraine’s battlefield fortunes are now deeply intertwined with diplomacy in Washington.
As Russia pushes further into Donbas and bombs Ukrainian cities, Kyiv’s allies believe only a unified U.S.-Europe front can deter Putin from pressing his advantage.
The question is whether Trump, eager for a deal but resistant to confrontation with Moscow, will provide it.
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