European Leaders Unite Ahead of Zelenskyy-Trump Talks

European leaders are rallying behind Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares for critical talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will hold a virtual meeting to coordinate their stance, rejecting any territorial concessions to Russia under force. Their joint statement emphasizes binding security guarantees for Ukraine, countering Putin’s demands for control over eastern regions.

Trump is pushing for a three-way summit with Putin and Zelenskyy as early as August 22, aiming to broker a potential breakthrough in the war. European leaders view Putin’s proposal, which includes China as a guarantor, as a direct challenge to NATO and regional security. Trump has claimed European nations rely heavily on him to resolve the conflict, stating, ’If it wasn’t for me, this thing would never get solved.’

Zelenskyy’s upcoming visit to Washington marks a pivotal moment, with Europe’s coalition seeking to bolster his position in negotiations. The outcome will test whether the coalition can influence the terms of peace or if the U.S. and Russia will dictate the terms alone. The phrase ’coalition of the willing,’ once tied to the Iraq War, now symbolizes Europe’s resistance to forced border changes in Ukraine.

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