Several European and NATO leaders will accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.
On Sunday, a number of European heads of state confirmed their participation, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was the first to announce the move, writing on X: “At the request of President Zelensky, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders at the White House tomorrow.”
Von der Leyen also noted that she would host Zelensky in Brussels ahead of the Washington meeting, with other European leaders joining the talks via video link before traveling together to the U.S.
The joint visit appears aimed at avoiding a repeat of the tense Oval Office encounter between Zelensky and Trump in February. The presence of key European leaders is intended to provide diplomatic support and to ensure Zelensky is not left isolated amid fears he could be pressured into accepting a Trump-brokered peace deal with Russia.
Monday’s trip also highlights Europe’s ongoing support for Ukraine, and the determination of EU and NATO leaders to avoid being left out of future negotiations.
