French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington on Monday for crucial talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. The discussions come shortly after Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, aimed at finding a pathway toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
Ahead of the Washington talks, Macron and Merz hosted a virtual session of the France-led “Coalition of the Willing,” where European leaders aligned their stance on supporting Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined the call and underlined that recent diplomatic engagement has opened the door to potential progress. He stressed that the next stage must include President Zelensky directly, while also pushing for tighter sanctions to curb Russia’s military aggression.
In a joint statement, European leaders welcomed the U.S.-Russia dialogue but insisted that Ukraine’s sovereignty and role in negotiations remain non-negotiable. They affirmed that no restrictions can be placed on Ukraine’s military cooperation with other nations and emphasized that international borders cannot be redrawn by force.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Russia may demand Ukraine’s withdrawal from parts of the Donbas region in exchange for freezing the conflict. Zelensky has firmly rejected any land concessions, making clear that Ukraine will not accept territorial compromises under external pressure.