European leaders met at the White House to highlight Ukraine’s security as vital for all of Europe. They showed unity with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the discussions. Leaders from France, Germany, Finland, Italy, and the UK joined European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO chief Mark Rutte to present a coordinated approach. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the meeting as “real progress” with a “real sense of unity.” Ursula von der Leyen stressed that all parties are working toward “a lasting and durable peace.”
Ceasefire Talks and Security Guarantees
The European leaders praised Trump for pledging security guarantees to Ukraine while leaving temporary ceasefire options open. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the path to stopping the fighting exists, but next steps remain complicated. He admitted he had doubts before the meeting but said outcomes exceeded his expectations. Merz urged pressure on Russia and expressed support for a ceasefire. Trump remained noncommittal, stating, “If we can do the ceasefire, great,” while signaling it was not a dealbreaker. After meeting Putin, Trump abandoned his immediate ceasefire demand and shifted toward negotiating a final peace settlement, aligning with Putin’s preference.
Planning Future Meetings and Security Roles
French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted US commitment to provide security guarantees for Ukraine as the meeting’s key outcome. Macron said leaders plan a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy in days, followed by a trilateral meeting including Trump within weeks. He voiced doubt about Putin’s willingness to end the war. Merz emphasized thorough preparation with Zelenskyy for such talks and stressed European participation in security guarantees. He noted the issue affects Europe’s political order, not just Ukraine’s territory. Merz said it is too early to decide on German peacekeeping forces. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte clarified that Ukraine’s membership is not discussed but confirmed talks on “Article 5 kind of security guarantees.” Article 5 declares that an attack on one NATO member counts as an attack on all. Leaders said US involvement details will be decided soon, giving Zelenskyy clarity on Ukraine’s safety under any peace settlement.
