This visit occurs in the wake of a summit in Alaska between the presidents of Russia and the United States, which focused on resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Monday for discussions with US President Donald Trump, accompanied by senior European Union officials, according to German news outlet Bild.
After the Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump indicated a preference for a comprehensive peace settlement rather than just a ceasefire, suggesting he might be receptive to acknowledging Russia’s newly claimed territories, aligning with Moscow’s stance.
Bild reported on Sunday that Trump’s change in stance has “thwarted” the European Union’s strategies for Ukraine. Both EU leaders and Zelensky have consistently maintained that a ceasefire must precede any negotiations, and have rejected any territorial concessions.
The publication reported on Sunday that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and the leaders of France, Germany, and Finland will join Zelensky in Washington.
After the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the objective of the Washington talks was to “present a united front” between Ukraine and the EU, cautioning against exhibiting “weakness” in interactions with Russia.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz affirmed that the EU would persist in its support for Kyiv and emphasized that any negotiations must commence with a ceasefire. Von der Leyen, for her part, dismissed any suggestion that Ukraine should relinquish territory to Russia and issued a warning of additional sanctions against Moscow.
Politico reported that Finnish President Alexander Stubb is traveling to Washington to “help prevent any flare-ups between Trump and Zelensky and convince the US president to include Europe in any further talks.” Zelensky’s last visit to Washington culminated in a tense exchange between the Ukrainian leader and Trump.
According to Russian economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev, a member of Moscow’s delegation, Ukraine’s supporters within the EU are “in a panic” after the Alaska summit.
Putin reaffirmed on Saturday that any resolution to the Ukraine conflict must address its fundamental causes. Moscow maintains that achieving enduring peace necessitates Ukraine abandoning its NATO aspirations, demilitarizing, and acknowledging the prevailing territorial realities.