Updates: European Leaders to Discuss Protections for Ukraine After White House Talks
After hastily arranged meetings with President Trump produced little tangible progress toward peace, Ukraine’s allies focused on security guarantees to keep Russia from invading again.
European leaders were expected to discuss protections for Ukraine on Tuesday, a day after their hastily arranged meetings with President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine at the White House, which showcased solidarity with Kyiv but yielded few details of how the war with Russia could end.
Leaders from the European Union’s 27 member nations were scheduled to meet via videoconference to debrief on the meeting with Mr. Trump. The leaders of Britain, France and Germany, who have pledged to help protect Ukraine’s security as part of any peace agreement, were also scheduled to meet to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.
The discussions were taking place a day after the White House meeting produced smiles and warmth among Mr. Trump, Mr. Zelensky and European allies — but few public signs of tangible progress toward an end to the war. That will require follow-through from Mr. Trump, sweeping concessions from Mr. Zelensky and a willingness by Russia to stop attacking Ukraine. Overnight, Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Ukraine, causing injuries and damage to infrastructure and energy facilities, Ukrainian officials said, a day after at least 14 people were killed in Russian strikes.
Mr. Zelensky recovered from his disastrous appearance in the Oval Office in February, pointing to progress with the United States on security guarantees to keep Russia from invading again, though he left without a formal agreement. Mr. Zelensky said Ukraine would purchase $90 billion in American weapons through Europe as part of the security guarantees. In return, the United States would buy drones from Ukraine, he said.
But wide gaps remained between Russia’s demand for territorial concessions and Ukraine’s insistence on a cease-fire to stop Moscow’s deadly attacks.
Mr. Trump, who is pressing for a quick peace deal, says one can be reached without a cease-fire, but seven European leaders hurriedly joined his meetings with Mr. Zelensky in Washington on Monday to back Ukraine on a pause in hostilities. In the talks, Mr. Trump pushed for a trilateral meeting with Mr. Zelensky and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, but the Kremlin showed no sign of accepting that offer.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin held a “frank and very constructive,” 40-minute call after the meeting with Mr. Zelensky and the European leaders, according to Yuri Ushakov, Mr. Putin’s foreign policy aide. The two men had agreed that more senior negotiators would be appointed for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, Mr. Ushakov told Rossiya 24, a state-run news channel, but he made no mention of Mr. Putin participating.
When he met with Mr. Trump in Alaska last week, Mr. Putin refused to accept a cease-fire.
Here’s what else to know:
“Coalition of the willing”: Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain said the security guarantees would include an international forcestationed in Ukraine after a cease-fire or peace agreement. That contingent could be as small as a few hundred troops to watch for any Russian military action, or a defensive force in the tens of thousands.
Suiting up: Mr. Zelensky thanked Mr. Trump effusively for U.S. support for Ukraine, receiving a much warmer reception than during his last visit, in February. He also eschewed military fatigues — the uniform he has donned since Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago — for a black suit, which Mr. Trump noted“
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