Ukraine and its European allies scrambled on Sunday to respond to President Donald Trump’s apparent pivot toward Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stance following their Alaska summit.
Trump signaled Saturday that he was stepping back from his earlier push for a ceasefire, instead pursuing a permanent peace deal that aligns the United States closer to Moscow’s position than Kyiv’s. The shift alarmed European capitals, prompting a coordinated move to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on Monday.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced they would join Zelenskyy for talks. “The trip will serve as an exchange of information,” Merz’s office said. “The talks will address, among other things, security guarantees, territorial issues, and continued support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.”
The meetings come ahead of a virtual gathering of the so-called “coalition of the willing,” a group of more than 30 nations backing Ukraine.
Despite alarm over Trump’s reversal on ceasefire conditions, he appeared to move closer to Kyiv and Europe on another front. According to U.S. officials and sources familiar with the matter, Trump spoke with Zelenskyy and European leaders Saturday morning about possible NATO-style security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a deal with Russia.
“European and American security guarantees were discussed,” one source said, adding that “U.S. troops on the ground was not discussed or entertained by [Trump].” The plan would reportedly provide protection in case of another Russian invasion but stop short of granting Ukraine NATO membership — a point European leaders had pressed in a joint statement over the weekend.
Still, the Alaska summit left Ukraine uneasy. Zelenskyy accused Russia of stalling progress by refusing to halt its assault. “Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation,” he wrote on X.
On the ground, frustration mounted over the optics of Trump hosting Putin. “I was hoping that the U.S. wouldn’t roll out the red carpet to the enemy,” said Kyiv resident Natalya Lypei. “How can you welcome a tyrant like this?”
While negotiations continue, the war rages on, leaving Ukraine caught between relentless Russian attacks and shifting geopolitical maneuvering.
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