European leaders are swiftly heading to Washington to stand alongside President Zelensky as he prepares for crucial talks with Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.
This meeting follows statements from Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, indicating that the U.S. compelled Vladimir Putin to accept a ‘Nato-style’ security pact safeguarding Ukraine.
Mr. Witkoff shared these insights with CNN on Sunday, amid reports suggesting the Russian leader had gained leverage at the summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday.
In a striking interview, he mentioned that offering Ukraine ‘Article 5-like protections’ was the main achievement and described the proposed security assurances as ‘game-changing.’
‘We didn’t anticipate being so close to an agreement on Article 5 protection from the United States, particularly in terms of legislative commitment within the Russian Federation to refrain from territorial advances once a peace deal is established,’ remarked Witkoff.
He further explained, ‘We reached a consensus where the United States and other European countries might effectively provide Article 5-like terms to ensure a security guarantee.’
Sir Keir Starmer is among the EU and Nato leaders travelling to the US in the hope of preventing a repeat of Zelensky’s humiliation in the Oval Office in February.
There are fears Zelenksy may walk into a trap laid by Putin – with Trump appearing poised to urge him to agree to a Russian land grab of his country’s territory.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said the US has forced Vladimir Putin to agree a ‘Nato-style’ security agreement protecting Ukraine
Russian president Vladimir Putin meets Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday
Zelensky, speaking in Brussels on Sunday, has said giving up land for peace in a future agreement with Russia could be ‘impossible’
Putin is said to have demanded full control of Donetsk and Luhansk – two occupied Ukrainian regions – as a condition for ending the three-year war.
Zelensky, meanwhile, has said giving up land for peace in a future agreement with Russia could be ‘impossible’.
Speaking in Brussels on Sunday, the Ukrainian president insisted that his country’s constitution made it ‘impossible to give up territory or trade land’.
But he went on to say: ‘Since the territorial issue is so important, it should be discussed only by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia at a trilateral meeting.
‘We need real negotiations, which means we can start where the front line is now,’ Zelensky said, adding that European leaders supported this.
The Ukrainian leader reiterated his position that it was necessary to establish a ceasefire in order to then negotiate a final deal.
‘It’s important that Washington is with us,’ the Ukrainian leader said.
Zelensky added that Ukraine did not yet know all the demands made by Putin at the meeting with Trump on Friday.
Volodymyr Zelensky faced a heated encounter when he met Donald Trump in February
Ursula von der Leyen, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and France’s Emmanuel Macron will travel to Washington tomorrow for peace talks at the White House.
European leaders are seen following a so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ meeting in May
Meanwhile, the world is still reeling from Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska, where he rolled out the red carpet for the war-mongering tyrant.
Most international commentators believe the negotiations were a win for Putin, with the media noticing he appeared energetic and satisfied by how the summit had gone.
Trump, on the other hand, appeared uncharacteristically deflated and seemed disheartened that the famed deal-maker was not able to get an agreement together.
But the US President has hit back at his critics.
He posted on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday morning: ‘It’s incredible how the Fake News violently distorts the TRUTH when it comes to me.
‘There is NOTHING I can say or do that would lead them to write or report honestly about me.
‘I had a great meeting in Alaska on Biden’s stupid War, a war that should have never happened!!!’
Only minutes later, he posted: ‘If I got Russia to give up Moscow as part of the Deal, the Fake News, and their PARTNER, the Radical Left Democrats, would say I made a terrible mistake and a very bad deal.
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin as they meet for talks about Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday
Vladimir Putin reportedly told the US president during the Alaska summit Friday that Ukrainian frontlines in Donetsk were on the verge of collapse
‘That’s why they are the FAKE NEWS! Also, they should talk about the 6 WARS, etc., I JUST STOPPED!!! MAGA.’
In his interview with CNN, Witkoff also discussed the issue of territory – and specifically of the five regions he described as always having been the ‘crux of the deal’.
Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 while the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson were annexed after referendums internationally viewed as shams in 2022.
‘The Russians made some concessions at the table with regard to all five of those regions,’ Witkoff said today.
He added that the Donetsk region constitutes an ‘important discussion’ – and one which he said will happen tomorrow.
The Donbas is predominantly Russian-speaking, and after Russia snatched Crimea in 2014, its proxy forces have gained a foothold there in a long-running war.
Zelensky, who has rejected Putin’s demands that Kyiv withdraw from the remaining 30 per cent of Donetsk that it still controls, played down the Russian advances, saying on X that his forces were ‘countering’ and ‘increasing the pressure’ on the ‘occupier’.
‘The Russian army continues to suffer significant losses in its attempts to secure more favourable political positions for the Russian leadership at the meeting in Alaska.
‘We understand this plan and are informing our partners about the real situation,’ he said.
A Russian tank fires during a practice session at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on Friday
President Volodymyr Zelensky is welcomed to Melsbroek Air Base near Brussels on Sunday
Sir Keir Starmer is set to be joined by Ursula von der Leyen, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and France’s Emmanuel Macron at the talks in Washington on Monday.
Other European leaders who have confirmed they will go include Finnish president Alexander Stubb, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte.
Zelensky’s Oval Office rendezvous follows a ‘coalition of the willing’ video call held by Western allies at 2pm on Sunday, hosted by Sir Keir, Mr Macron and Mr Merz.
Downing Street has insisted Sir Keir and other allies stand ready to support the next phase of talks to end the war.
A statement from No 10 said: ‘At the meeting that will take place at the White House tomorrow, the Prime Minister, with other European partners, stands ready to support this next phase of further talks and will reaffirm that his backing for Ukraine will continue as long as it takes.’
