(TNND) — European and NATO leaders are set to accompany Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a pivotal meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the move on Sunday, describing it as an effort to prevent a repeat of the tense encounter Zelenskyy experienced during his February meeting with Trump in the Oval Office.
Von der Leyen, who leads the European Union’s executive branch, stated on X, “At the request of President Zelenskyy, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders in the White House.”
The presence of European leaders alongside Zelenskyy is seen as a demonstration of Europe’s support for Ukraine. It aims to alleviate concerns in Kyiv and other European capitals that Zelenskyy might be pressured into a peace deal that Trump is keen to broker with Russia.
In a swift series of announcements on Sunday, several European leaders confirmed their attendance. Among them are French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
This collective visit highlights the determination of European leaders to ensure their voices are heard in Trump’s peace-making efforts, especially following the U.S. president’s recent summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, which notably excluded Zelenskyy.
