Zelensky and European Leaders Meet Trump: A Discussion on Peace for Ukraine?
The upcoming meeting at the White House between President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and other world leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, is set to discuss the contested security guarantees for Ukraine.
President Zelensky finds himself in a challenging position, needing to advocate for Ukraine's interests while also making President Trump feel that his mediation efforts are taken seriously. The proposed security guarantees, still unresolved as of August 2025, are shrouded in controversy.
Russian Position
Russia demands that any peace agreement be signed by guarantor countries, notably the permanent members of the UN Security Council, with veto rights if escalation occurs. They also insist on a radical reduction of the Ukrainian army, fearing Ukraine's potential rearmament and attempts to regain lost territory post-war.
European and Ukrainian Position
Europeans and Kyiv envision security guarantees that include a limited military presence from NATO countries stationed in Ukraine, primarily for "reassurance" rather than combat. This presence would provide moral support and limited practical functions such as in-country training. However, the U.S. under Trump has ruled out placing U.S. troops on Ukrainian soil, with air support from the U.S. considered likely but details undecided. The U.S. also seeks to have European allies share the burden of financial support for military aid to Ukraine.
Current Developments
President Zelensky has stated that Ukrainian security guarantees will be ready "in the coming days," reflecting ongoing negotiations with U.S. and European partners to define this framework. NATO military officials have been involved in discussions to create a joint military plan that ensures Ukraine can defend itself effectively, focusing on strengthening Ukrainian armed forces after a peace deal or a long-term ceasefire.
Future Meetings
Zelensky plans to discuss security guarantees and preparations for a possible meeting with Putin later in the week, along with U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg. This active but still fluid situation indicates that negotiations are ongoing, with no finalized agreement yet.
The proposed security guarantees include international guarantors with veto rights, limits on Ukrainian military size mandated by Russia, and Western proposals for limited NATO presence and U.S. air support without ground troops. Ukraine and its allies aim for a credible security architecture enabling self-defense and deterrence against future Russian aggression.
Other key issues include territorial concessions, which Zelensky has repeatedly rejected. Putin seeks a peace agreement that addresses what he sees as the root causes of the conflict, including Ukraine's renunciation of NATO membership, protection of the rights of Russian-speaking populations, and lifting the ban on the Russian Orthodox Church.
This time, Zelensky will travel to Washington not only with his Ukrainian delegation but also with European support, which is likely to change the dynamics of the meeting. The Europeans consider it important that the U.S. is involved in the security guarantees for Ukraine, and Article 5 of the NATO treaty could potentially play a role in these discussions, although it does not put NATO in a defensive obligation in the scenario being discussed.
References:
- Washington Post
- BBC News
- Reuters
- Politico
- The upcoming White House meeting between various world leaders is expected to delve into the controversial aspects of the proposed security guarantees for Ukraine, a topic that has been under discussion since August 2025 and is closely related to war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news.
- As the preparations for Zelensky's meeting with Putin unfold, the focus is on securing credible security architecture to safeguard Ukraine from future Russian aggression. This includes the involvement of international guarantors, limited NATO presence, and possible US air support, a matter that intertwines with war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news.
