August 18, 2025 | 04:07 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - European leaders accompanied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington, the United States, on August 18, 2025, to meet with President Donald Trump. This meeting took place after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska the previous week.
European leaders participated due to concerns after seeing the warmth of Trump's meeting with Putin. According to Politico, European leaders are worried that Zelensky will receive a cold and harsh reception at the White House. They recall the tension between Zelensky and Trump meeting in March 2025.
They are also concerned that Trump will pressure Zelensky again to make territorial concessions to Russia. Therefore, in this meeting, both Europe and Ukraine will strive to ensure that Trump does not agree to Putin's demands, including the accession of any Ukrainian territory.
Coalition Support
According to the French presidency office, the meeting between Zelensky and Trump will be led jointly by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In addition, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte were reported to be participating.
Macron, in a post on social media X on Saturday, August 16, 2025, emphasized the joint position of European leaders on the need to continue supporting Ukraine and maintain pressure on Russia as its aggressive war continues until a solid and lasting peace respecting Ukraine's rights is achieved.
"We will work on this with them and with all our partners in the Coalition of the Willing, with whom we will meet again soon, to make concrete progress," Macron wrote, as quoted by Interfax.
Von der Leyen also announced on X on Sunday, August 17, 2025, that she would visit Washington to accompany Zelensky. At Zelensky's request, she said, they would join Trump and other European leaders at the White House.
"This afternoon, I will welcome @ZelenskyyUa in Brussels," Von der Leyen wrote on X on Sunday, August 17, 2025. "Together, we will participate in the Coalition of Willing VTC."
Meanwhile, the German Chancellor's office said that Merz would discuss the status of Ukrainian and Russian peace efforts with the heads of state and government. He also emphasized Germany's interest in a speedy peace agreement in Ukraine. This visit, he said, was for an exchange of information. "The trip will serve as an exchange of information with Trump after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska," the Chancellor's spokesperson said on Sunday, August 17, 2025.
Together with Macron, Von der Leyen, and Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb have also stated that they will participate in Monday's discussions. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte did as well.
Support from European leaders could ease concerns in Kyiv and other European capitals that Ukraine might be forced into a peace deal. According to a source, Trump has supported Russia's proposal for Moscow to control two Ukrainian territories.
Russia also demanded that Ukraine freeze the frontline in two other places where Moscow only partially controls. Reports showed that Trump informed Zelensky about Russia's proposal to largely freeze the frontline if he hands over all of Donetsk. However, the Ukrainian leader rejected the demands.
After his claimed "very productive" meeting with Putin last Friday, Trump stated that the responsibility to secure a peace agreement now rested with Zelensky. Trump was also reported to have sought a three-way meeting with Putin and Zelensky, but Moscow has not openly committed to such a summit.
Sita Planasari contributed to the writing of this article
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