Leaders Von der Leyen and Merz, in tandem, join Zelenskyy for a meeting with Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj is set to travel to Washington, D.C., tomorrow as part of a European delegation, which includes German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The meeting with US President Donald Trump will take place after the European delegation's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
The discussions will revolve around creating a strong, NATO Article 5-like collective defense commitment to Ukraine, supported by the US and European partners, as a foundation for peace and deterrence against future aggression. The key security guarantees discussed will center on providing Ukraine with protection modeled on NATO's Article 5, which means that an armed attack on Ukraine would be considered an attack against the guarantors, invoking collective defense commitments.
The U.S. has expressed "historic" readiness to participate in these post-war security guarantees alongside European nations, aiming for reliable arrangements that "work in practice." The European delegation emphasized the importance of European involvement "at every stage" alongside America to ensure these guarantees are credible and effective, signaling an intent to reject any security deal that would require Ukraine to cede territory to Russia.
The meeting will also focus on maintaining economic pressure on Russia, addressing territorial issues, and continuing support for Ukraine in defending against Russian aggression. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will discuss the status of peace efforts with the heads of state during the meeting and reaffirm Germany's interest in a swift peace in Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump has invited Selenskyj to Washington for discussions on a potential peace plan. The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had previously stated that she would participate in the meeting at the White House with "other European heads of state and government."
Before the meeting with Trump, the European delegation will participate in a video conference of the 'Coalition of the Willing' in Brussels with Selenskyj on Sunday. Selenskyj stated that the meeting will be to discuss details to end the war in Ukraine.
The 'Coalition of the Willing' refers to the allies of Ukraine who are ready to support a peacekeeping mission. The meeting with Trump will mark a significant step in the ongoing efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine and ensure the security of the country.
- The European delegation, comprising of Volodymyr Selenskyj, Ursula von der Leyen, and Friedrich Merz, recognizes the European Union's responsibility to ensure that the EU's nuclear programme is implemented in a manner consistent with the objectives of the European Union, particularly in the context of the ongoing war-and-conflicts and politics in Ukraine.
- In the midst of general-news discussions on peace efforts for Ukraine, it is crucial for the European Union's political strategies to uphold important security guarantees, such as a potential collective defense commitment akin to NATO's Article 5, to deter future conflicts and to maintain economic pressure on Russia, thereby contributing significantly to ending the war-and-conflicts in Ukraine.
