Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will have a direct discussion with American President Donald Trump at a meeting in Washington D.C. on Monday. The main purpose of this discussion is to find a way to end the ongoing conflict with Russia. However, Zelenskyy will not be alone this time, as many European leaders and senior NATO officials will stand by him. Due to the previous dispute between Zelenskyy and Trump during the last visit to America, this meeting is considered more sensitive.
This meeting is taking place at a time when just a few days ago, Trump held a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. During this discussion, it was reported that Putin demanded Ukraine give the eastern Donbas region to Russia for a ceasefire. However, Zelensky has made it clear that he will not give up his territory under any circumstances.
Before Zelensky's visit to America on Sunday, Macron and Merz held an online meeting of the 'Coalition of the Willing' under France's leadership. The meeting reviewed the Trump-Putin discussions. Starmer urged Putin to “immediately stop his inhumane attack.” He stated that European countries will impose stricter sanctions on Russia, which will have a serious impact on their war machinery.
The joint statement released by the EU on Saturday made it clear that no restrictions can be imposed on Ukraine's military and Russia will not have the right to veto Ukraine's entry into the European Union and NATO. “International borders should not be changed by force, and Ukraine has the right to decide about its own territory,” the statement noted. Against the backdrop of all these developments, this meeting in Washington will be decisive not only for the Ukraine-Russia war but also for Europe-America relations.