Zelensky Returning to White House With Backup After Trump Clash

 

European leaders and NATO’s Secretary General are joining Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Monday. Their presence signals a united front with Kyiv after Donald Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week ended without a ceasefire agreement.

European officials have been uneasy watching Trump position himself as the main negotiator between Russia and Ukraine. Many believe Europe’s security is directly tied to the outcome of these talks. That’s why they continue to back Ukraine’s demands: no recognition of Russian territorial gains and solid security guarantees to deter future attacks.

Before Trump’s Alaska summit, European leaders had already made it clear they would not support redrawing borders by force. Despite this, Trump floated the idea that both sides would need to cede land. According to reports, Trump later told European leaders he backed a plan where Ukraine would hand over territory it still controls, something Kyiv has repeatedly rejected as unconstitutional.

Attending Monday’s meeting in Washington will be British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Finnish President Alexander Stubb may also join—he has maintained a surprisingly cordial relationship with Trump, even bonding over golf.

For Zelensky, this meeting comes after a difficult White House visit earlier this year, which exposed tensions between Kyiv and Washington. Ukrainian officials remain firm: no deal that gives Russia Ukrainian land will be accepted.

Meanwhile, Moscow is attempting to paint Europe as the obstacle to Trump’s peace efforts. Putin has urged European politicians not to “disrupt progress” or create “provocations.” On the U.S. side, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff suggested Ukraine would be offered “Article 5-like” protections, referencing NATO’s mutual defense pledge, though Ukraine is not part of the alliance.

The stakes are high. While Trump says it is now up to Zelensky to “get it done,” European leaders worry about another Oval Office clash that could weaken Ukraine’s position. For now, the demands on both sides still appear irreconcilable, meaning Monday’s meeting may end up showing unity more than producing concrete results.