This week, a rare summit unfolded at the White House as U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and seven European leaders to tackle the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Joining Zelenskyy were NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
The discussions zeroed in on security guarantees for Ukraine, with leaders debating how U.S. and European forces could coordinate defense support. Nearly 20 mentions of "security guarantees" highlighted its top priority.
Key points on the table included:
- Coordinated defense aid from U.S. and European partners
- Potential US-Ukraine-Russia trilateral talks
- NATO Article 5 as a model for collective defense guarantees
- Debate over whether a ceasefire is needed before negotiations
Trump emphasized that European countries would "all be involved" in aiding Ukraine, though he didn't specify U.S. troop commitments. Zelenskyy urged a strong U.S. signal on security guarantees and revealed Ukraine's plan to purchase around $90 billion in American weapons, financed by European partners. Reports also suggest a $100 billion U.S. arms package proposal is under review.
With follow-up talks scheduled in the next 10 days, all eyes are on whether this high-profile White House summit can deliver a unified front to bolster Ukraine's security and steer the war toward a diplomatic path.
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What did Trump, Zelenskyy and European leaders discuss at White House?
cgtn.com
