MNN (Web Desk); European leaders are set to accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington, DC on Monday in a coordinated push for peace, as efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war took a new turn after US President Donald Trump dropped his demand for an immediate ceasefire during his Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A ceasefire had been among Trump’s central conditions ahead of Friday’s meeting with Putin, held without Ukraine or European participation. However, the summit ended without a breakthrough. Trump later aligned more closely with Moscow’s stance, shelving his ceasefire push in favor of broader negotiations for a final settlement.
Special US envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that Putin had agreed for the first time to allow the US and European allies to provide Ukraine with a security guarantee comparable to NATO’s Article 5. He described it as a concession that could form part of an eventual peace deal.
Zelenskyy, speaking in Brussels after talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, stressed that any negotiations must begin from the existing front lines. He reiterated that securing a ceasefire was essential before discussing a comprehensive settlement. European leaders voiced support for his position.
According to the New York Times, Trump has privately floated a plan that would see Ukraine cede parts of its territory to Russia in exchange for peace – an idea sharply rejected by Kyiv and its allies, who view it as legitimizing Russia’s battlefield advances. Critics argue such proposals give Moscow time to consolidate its gains while weakening Ukraine’s sovereignty.
To counter these concerns, top European leaders will stand alongside Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday. Those expected include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Ursula von der Leyen. Berlin said the talks would cover security guarantees, sanctions, and continued military and financial aid for Ukraine.
Macron emphasized on Sunday that unity was crucial. “If we show weakness today in front of Russia, we are laying the ground for future conflicts,” he said, describing the initiative as a coalition effort to secure durable peace and protect Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The show of solidarity also comes against the backdrop of tensions between Zelenskyy and Washington. In February, Trump and Vice-President JD Vance publicly rebuked the Ukrainian leader in the White House, accusing him of ingratitude – an episode that left lingering unease among Kyiv’s allies.
Zelenskyy has welcomed diplomatic efforts but has firmly rejected any territorial concessions, citing Ukraine’s constitution, which prohibits ceding land. On Saturday, he warned that Russia must demonstrate genuine willingness for peaceful coexistence with its neighbors if lasting stability is to be achieved.
