White House Today
Today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to hold a high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, joined by top European leaders: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
This gathering is historic—rarely do so many of the world’s most influential leaders sit at the same table to debate the future of a war that has reshaped Europe’s security, economics, and politics. The talks are expected to focus on whether a compromise, a ceasefire, or even further escalation will define the next phase of the Ukraine–Russia conflict.
Both Kyiv and Moscow have, at different moments, signaled an interest in peace. Yet the definitions diverge: a “lasting peace agreement” would involve binding guarantees and concessions, while a temporary “ceasefire,” critics argue, could simply buy Ukraine and its allies more time to regroup militarily. On the other hand, Moscow insists its priorities remain unchanged: recognition of control over Russian-speaking ].regions, particularly in the Donbas, and its long-declared goal of Ukraine’s so-called “denazification.” For Zelenskyy, such terms remain non-negotiable red lines.
Complicating the backdrop is Trump’s recent private meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, details of which remain largely undisclosed. Analysts suggest the Donbas question was central, raising fears that a U.S.-Russia understanding could leave Ukraine cornered into territorial concessions.
European leaders’ presence at today’s summit signals a determination not to repeat earlier missteps, such as Zelenskyy’s fraught visit to Washington, where despite fanfare, Ukraine walked away without concrete wins. This time, the EU is firmly showing its weight alongside Kyiv, while still wary of widening divisions within NATO.
Trump, however, remains at the center of the diplomatic chessboard. As both a dealmaker and a wildcard, he has the leverage to bridge gaps—or widen them. Should he broker even the framework of a peace settlement, it could elevate his standing globally and ignite talk of a Nobel Peace Prize. Yet, overshadowing the war in Ukraine is a question barely voiced in these corridors of power: while leaders fix their gaze on Eastern Europe, what about Gaza? The crisis there remains unresolved, raising concerns that selective diplomacy could undermine the credibility of any peace achieved today.
