European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed on an X post that she will travel to Washington on 18 August 2025 to meet United States President Donald Trump. This is a response to a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She also announced that other European leaders will also be present during the White House talks.
Von der Leyen stated that she will first welcome President Zelenskyy in Brussels later today. Together, they will attend a session of the Coalition of the Willing, a group of countries formed to back Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. This was originally established by the United Kingdom and France after concerns regarding diminished U.S. security commitments.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb confirmed they will travel alongside Zelenskyy to Washington. Their attendance reflects a coordinated European effort to ensure unity with Ukraine and to address gaps left unsolved during the Trump-Putin meeting on 15 August 2025 in Alaska.
The White House gathering is expected to address critical peace and security issues. Note that there was an initial hope for a ceasefire following the announcement of the Trump-Putin meeting. However, two days before the much-hyped meeting, the White House clarified that the event was more of a listening exercise and not an actual negotiation.
Leaders from the European Union underscored that the U.S. and Russia cannot arrive at a deal without including Ukraine in the discussion. Moreover, after reports that Trump could pressure Zelenskyy to cede territories to Putin as a result of the Trump-Putin meeting, European leaders have grown uncertain about the political will of the U.S. to end the war.
The Coalition of the Willing now includes more than 30 nations committed to supporting Ukraine by establishing credible security guarantees in the event of a settlement with Russia. Several countries, including France and the United Kingdom, have already pledged to provide military personnel to help enforce any possible Russia-Ukraine agreement.
French President Macron said in a statement that their attendance at the meeting between Ukraine and the U.S. is intended to enhance coordination with the European Union to achieve a just and lasting peace. The statement emphasized that such an outcome must protect the vital interests of Ukraine while also guaranteeing the long-term security of Europe.
The German government also issued a statement confirming the attendance of Chancellor Merz in the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting. His spokesperson said the discussions would include security guarantees for Ukraine, territorial issues, and sanctions on Russia. The statement further explained that the chancellor aims to underscore the interests of Germany and Ukraine.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb similarly confirmed that he will attend the White House meeting. His office underscored that Finland views its participation as essential to maintaining European solidarity and ensuring that smaller nations also have a role in shaping regional security. Stubb expressed support for stronger cooperation with the United States.
The upcoming meeting is widely seen as a response to growing concerns in Europe about the willingness of the Trump administration to scale back U.S. security commitments and forego any efforts to assist Ukraine. European leaders aim to strengthen their collective position and highlight their readiness to share responsibilities in supporting Ukraine.