Key Facts
• August 17: EU Commission President met Zelensky in Brussels to discuss U.S. talks.
• August 18: Zelensky and Trump to meet in Washington, EU leaders to attend.
• Macron, Starmer, and Scholz held an online meeting on Ukraine support on August 17.
• February 28: Zelensky and Trump clashed during a White House meeting, halting peace talks.
• EU leaders aim to support Ukraine amid potential U.S. pressure on territorial issues.
Summary
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other EU leaders will join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on August 18 for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. This follows a request from Zelensky, who met von der Leyen in Brussels on August 17 to prepare for the talks. The meeting comes amid concerns that the U.S. may pressure Ukraine on territorial concessions for a peace agreement. Earlier, on February 28, Zelensky and Trump had a contentious exchange at the White House, leading to a breakdown in negotiations. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz convened an online meeting on August 17 to discuss continued support for Ukraine. The EU leaders’ presence in Washington underscores their commitment to backing Ukraine during critical negotiations.
