Trump Hosts European Leaders at White House Amid Ukraine Peace Efforts

President Donald Trump convened a meeting at the White House with several European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The discussions focused on Ukraine's security and the prospects for peace negotiations with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also attended the meeting, expressing gratitude for the support from the United States and European allies. He emphasized the importance of securing guarantees for Ukraine's safety in any potential peace agreement with Russia.

The meeting followed a recent summit in Alaska between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which concluded without a concrete agreement on ending the conflict in Ukraine. Both leaders described the talks as productive, with plans for future discussions involving Ukraine and European partners.

European leaders reiterated their commitment to supporting Ukraine and emphasized the necessity of a ceasefire before engaging in further negotiations. They also discussed potential security guarantees for Ukraine, similar to those provided under NATO's Article 5, though Ukraine's membership in NATO was not on the immediate agenda.

The White House highlighted the importance of these discussions in advancing peace efforts in the region and strengthening transatlantic alliances.