US President Donald Trump is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, marking their first discussion since a contentious encounter at the White House earlier this year. This meeting will include European leaders, such as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, focusing on strategies to resolve the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The meeting follows a recent summit where Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. During that summit, Trump shifted his stance from seeking a ceasefire to advocating for a permanent peace agreement. Reports suggest that Putin has agreed to the possibility of a NATO-like security arrangement for Ukraine.
Trump hinted at significant developments in relations with Russia on his Truth Social platform but did not provide further details. Among the European leaders attending the talks are French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, though it is uncertain how many will meet at the White House.
The extensive attendance of heads of state for this meeting amidst a wartime crisis highlights the urgency of the situation. European officials have expressed concerns that Trump may pressure Zelensky into unfavorable terms, especially after the Ukrainian president did not participate in the Trump-Putin meeting. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed suggestions of such pressure as a “stupid media narrative.”
NATO leaders are keen to avoid a repeat of Zelensky’s previous visit, which ended in conflict between Zelensky and Trump. Since then, European leaders have been working to repair US-Ukrainian relations, with Zelensky adopting a deal-making approach that aligns with Trump’s preferences.
Recent diplomatic efforts also include a virtual summit with key Western allies, during which Macron emphasized presenting a united front for Monday’s discussions. Zelensky remains firm on Ukraine’s territorial integrity and insists that discussions regarding territorial concessions should occur between Ukraine and Russia directly. Despite progress in diplomacy, US officials caution that a resolution to the conflict remains distant.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm21j1ve817o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss