The Daily Star Ireland
European leaders will gather in Washington alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, seeking a pathway to end Russia’s invasion after U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned his push for an immediate ceasefire during his recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Building a Coalition in Washington
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed she would attend the White House talks at Zelensky’s request, noting that she would also meet him in Brussels later in the week. Joining her in Washington will be British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will not travel but is expected to participate virtually, while Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin will join discussions via video call as part of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing.” The group intends to review the outcome of the Trump-Putin summit and chart next steps in pushing for a resolution to the war.
The German government underscored that Chancellor Merz’s priority will be stressing the need for a “swift peace agreement” in Ukraine, reflecting mounting European anxiety over the direction of negotiations.
From Ceasefire to Peace Deal
Trump’s Alaska summit with Putin concluded without a breakthrough, but the U.S. president quickly clarified that he would not be pressing for a ceasefire. Instead, he argued that a direct peace deal is the only durable solution, writing on his Truth Social platform that “ceasefire agreements often do not hold up.”
On his flight back to Washington, Trump briefed Zelensky and European leaders, telling them all had agreed that ending the “horrific war” required pursuing a comprehensive peace agreement rather than a temporary halt in fighting.
Zelensky, however, voiced unease, calling the shift “complicating.” He warned that if Russia could not even pause its strikes, it would be far more difficult to secure its commitment to long-term peaceful coexistence.
Putin’s Demands and Ukraine’s Red Lines
According to officials familiar with the talks, Trump expressed support for a Putin proposal under which Russia would gain full control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions—collectively known as Donbas—in exchange for halting its offensive in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
“De facto, Putin demands that Ukraine leave Donbas,” one official said, adding that Zelensky had categorically refused. Russia has claimed to annex all four regions since September 2022, but its military has never achieved full control of them.
Despite Zelensky’s rejection, Trump offered assurances that the U.S. would be willing to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, a move that Chancellor Merz welcomed as “significant progress.”
European Reactions and Ongoing Skepticism
Not all European leaders were optimistic. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accused Putin of using talks to buy time, warning that “Russia has no intention of ending this war any time soon.” Others echoed concerns that pushing Ukraine into territorial concessions would reward aggression rather than deter it.
While European governments cautiously welcomed the possibility of a three-way Trump-Putin-Zelensky summit, they emphasized their intention to maintain sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Moscow until genuine progress is achieved.
Looking Ahead: High-Stakes Talks in Washington
Zelensky’s upcoming White House visit comes against the backdrop of a strained relationship with Trump. His last Oval Office appearance in February ended in a heated exchange, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticizing him for insufficient gratitude toward U.S. aid efforts.
This time, Zelensky said he expects “substantive” discussions on “all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war.” Trump, meanwhile, told Fox News that it is ultimately “up to President Zelensky to get it done,” framing the Ukrainian leader as the decisive figure in any final agreement.
Meanwhile, the conflict shows no sign of abating. Kyiv reported that Russia launched 85 drones and a ballistic missile overnight, underscoring the intensity of ongoing attacks even as high-level diplomacy continues.
Back in Moscow, Putin described his meeting with Trump as “timely and very useful,” cautioning Ukraine and its allies against “behind-the-scenes intrigues” that might derail what he called “emerging progress.”
Conclusion
As Zelensky heads to Washington, the stakes could not be higher. With Trump pushing for a peace settlement over a ceasefire and Putin pressing for territorial gains, Ukraine faces the difficult task of defending its sovereignty while keeping Western unity intact. The coming talks may not end the war immediately, but they will shape the parameters of what an eventual peace could look like.
