President Donald Trump’s latest meeting with European and NATO leaders was framed as a major step toward trying to end the war in Ukraine. But behind the optics, things didn’t go as smoothly as the White House might have hoped.
The meeting included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alongside leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It was one of the rare moments of visible unity between Washington and European allies.
However, during the talks, Trump reportedly stepped away to call Vladimir Putin. That decision raised eyebrows immediately, with CNN’s Kimberly Dozier noting that Trump seemed to be “checking in” with Putin in the middle of discussions about Ukraine’s future. According to her, it gave the impression that Trump still looked for Putin’s approval especially after Russia’s leader warned that NATO troops on the ground in Ukraine would be “unacceptable.”
After the call, the Kremlin downplayed the idea of a direct Zelensky–Putin meeting, despite Trump pushing for one. While Putin initially told Trump he was “open” to the idea of negotiations, Russian officials quickly softened that statement, insisting that talks would have to be built up slowly and “gradually.” In other words, no breakthroughs are on the horizon.
Zelensky, for his part, kept a calm demeanor, even as speculation swirled about how much weight Trump was giving to Putin’s words. European leaders, meanwhile, seemed to take a firmer stance, with reports suggesting they are considering stronger security commitments to Ukraine, regardless of Moscow’s objections.
Later this week, representatives from 30 countries will gather at the Pentagon to finalize military and security commitments for Ukraine. The UK’s defense chief, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, is expected to confirm Britain’s readiness to support Ukraine’s air and sea defenses but not to place British troops on the frontlines against Russia.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer also briefed more than 30 world leaders about the White House meeting. According to Downing Street, planning teams from the “coalition of the willing” will now work with their U.S. counterparts on creating stronger security guarantees and preparing for potential peacekeeping or reassurance forces if hostilities eventually wind down.
The picture that emerges is complex: Trump is trying to position himself as a dealmaker, but his outreach to Putin has left many allies uneasy. At the same time, European leaders appear more determined to prepare for Ukraine’s defense with or without Moscow’s blessing.
2 Comments
I agree with the European leaders
ReplyDeleteThere has to be 100% unity on all decisions, re:- Russia. Unity is strength , and Europe has to show that, and make it clear that we support Ukraine. One thing we could do without, is D T putting his threepence worth in. We can manage without him, ta very much.
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