In a high-stakes diplomatic move, European leaders are set to accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington, DC, on Monday. Their joint appearance aims to demonstrate a united front as Ukraine continues to resist Russian aggression and to press the United States for stronger guarantees of support.
The initiative follows last week’s Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which left Ukraine and its European allies excluded from the talks. Although Trump had initially demanded a ceasefire before the summit, he later backed away from that condition, aligning closer with Putin’s position.
According to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Putin agreed in principle to let Washington and European allies offer Ukraine security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5 commitments, though no concrete breakthrough was achieved.
Speaking from Brussels, Zelenskyy reaffirmed that Ukraine will not cede territory in exchange for peace. “We need real negotiations, starting from where the front line is now,” he said. Ukraine’s constitution prohibits territorial concessions, a principle the president stressed again ahead of the Washington talks.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will join Zelenskyy in Washington. Their joint presence is intended to amplify pressure on the White House and ensure that any deal respects Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Macron emphasized that showing weakness to Russia would risk sowing the seeds for future conflicts. “If we show weakness today, we are laying the ground for future wars,” he said.
Despite Trump’s proposal for territorial compromises, Ukraine and its European allies remain firm that no land will be exchanged. Putin has reportedly demanded full control of the Donetsk region, while offering to halt offensives in Kherson and Zaporizhia. Zelenskyy, however, has consistently rejected any such land swap.
Monday’s White House discussions are expected to focus on security guarantees, sanctions pressure, and long-term peace strategies. While U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, acknowledge that a final agreement is still distant, the Washington talks signal renewed diplomatic momentum.
For Ukraine, the presence of European leaders alongside Zelenskyy represents not only solidarity but also a clear message: Kyiv and its allies will not settle for peace at the expense of territorial integrity.