Trump Hosts Zelenskyy, EU Leaders for Pivotal Talks on Putin-Backed Ukraine Peace Plan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House on Monday for a critical summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.
He was accompanied by a delegation of prominent European leaders for discussions focused on a controversial peace proposal to resolve the war with Russia.
The meeting follows President Trump’s recent engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump has since publicly championed a negotiated settlement that he asserts could bring an immediate end to the fighting.
Trump Advocates for Territorial Concessions
Central to the negotiations is a framework reportedly involving a “land swap,” which would require Ukraine to cede territory in exchange for an end to hostilities.
This proposal emerged as a key topic after Trump’s meeting with Putin last Friday, with the U.S. president framing it as the most efficient path toward peace.
A U.S. envoy stated that Putin made “robust concessions” during the Alaska talks, intensifying the pressure on Kyiv to engage with the proposed terms.
However, President Zelenskyy has maintained a firm public stance against such a deal, previously declaring it “impossible to give up territory.”
European Allies Join Critical Negotiations
The significance of the discussions is highlighted by the attendance of major European stakeholders.
The group of leaders includes French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Also participating in the talks are Finnish President Alexander Stubb, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
They join a U.S. delegation that includes Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting follows a contentious visit by Zelenskyy to the White House in February, setting a tense backdrop for the current high-stakes diplomacy.
