European Leaders Rally Behind Zelenskiy in Washington as Trump Pressures Ukraine to Accept Peace Deal
WASHINGTON, August 18 — In a moment charged with geopolitical urgency, a coalition of European leaders is making its way to Washington to stand firmly beside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The goal: to reinforce his position as he faces growing pressure from Donald Trump to accept a controversial peace deal that could change Ukraine’s borders—and the future of Europe.
Zelenskiy, who has carried the weight of war for over two years, is now under renewed strain. Trump, after a private meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, has reportedly come away more aligned with Moscow’s terms, pushing for a peace deal that skips a ceasefire altogether. On Monday, Trump and Zelenskiy are set to meet, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Speaking on Face the Nation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concern. “If peace isn’t possible, the war will continue, and more lives will be lost. We don’t want to get there—but we might,” he warned.
Trump teased “BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA” in a social media post, though he gave no details. Behind closed doors, insiders say the US and Russia are discussing a swap: Russia gives up small pieces of occupied territory, while Ukraine gives up larger, fortified parts of its east. The proposal has rattled nerves.
Moscow, for its part, seems to agree that any deal should include solid security guarantees—for both Ukraine and Russia. Russian envoy Mikhail Ulyanov said on X, “Russia agrees with the need for security guarantees for Ukraine. But Moscow has the same right to expect them.”
That’s exactly what’s making this process so complex. Trump officials hinted that eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region—mostly controlled by Russia—could be the bargaining chip. Trump’s camp is floating the idea of offering Ukraine Article 5-style protection (like NATO’s mutual defense clause), without formal NATO membership.
It’s not clear that such a promise will satisfy Ukraine. The country already gave up its nuclear weapons in 1994 in exchange for territorial guarantees—promises shattered when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and invaded in 2022. The war has since claimed or maimed over a million lives.
In a show of solidarity, leaders including Germany’s Friedrich Merz, France’s Emmanuel Macron, and Britain’s Keir Starmer hosted a meeting of European allies to arm Zelenskiy with stronger support ahead of his faceoff with Trump. Their message: Ukraine must not be cornered into any deal that compromises its sovereignty.
They were joined by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Finnish President Alexander Stubb (a golfing partner of Trump’s), and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Their presence in Washington underscores Europe’s urgency—and its worry that Ukraine may be pressured into concessions it cannot afford.
The Europeans were unified: No discussion about land should happen without Ukraine at the table. No peace plan should be drafted under the shadow of falling bombs.
Poland’s foreign ministry said it best: “You cannot negotiate peace under falling bombs.”
After the meeting, Britain, France, and Germany issued a joint statement offering to send a “reassurance force” once the guns fall silent, to help protect Ukraine’s skies, seas, and sovereignty. It’s a bold move, but not everyone in Europe is on board with military involvement.
Zelenskiy took to social media to thank the allies. “There is clear support for Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty. Everyone agrees—borders must not be changed by force.”
He added that any security promises must be real, covering land, air, and sea, and built in cooperation with Europe.
The coming days are critical. Rubio confirmed that further talks would explore serious consequences for Russia if no agreement is reached. “We’re not saying peace is imminent,” he said. “But we saw enough movement to keep going.”
Meanwhile, Putin has briefed allies like Belarus and Kazakhstan about his Alaska talks. And Trump? He continues to pressure Zelenskiy, reportedly calling him after the summit to say Putin offered to freeze most front lines—if Ukraine surrendered Donetsk. Zelenskiy refused.
The world watches.