“European leaders are concerned about a repeat of the previous Oval Office incident and thus aim to bolster Mr. Zelenskyy’s position,” explained retired French General Dominique Trinquand, who previously led France’s military mission at the United Nations.

“It’s a power struggle and a position of strength that might work with Trump,” he said in a phone interview.

Having European leaders accompany Zelenskyy, showcasing their backing for Ukraine, might help alleviate worries in Kyiv and across Europe about Ukraine being pressured into a peace agreement that Trump is eager to negotiate with Russia.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether all or just some of them would be taking part in the actual meeting with Trump.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on X that she will take part in the talks, “at the request of President Zelenskyy”.

The secretary-general of the NATO military alliance, Mark Rutte, will also take part in the meeting, his press service said.

President Emmanuel Macron’s office disclosed that the French leader will travel to Washington on Monday alongside President Zelenskyy, although it has not been confirmed if he will attend the meeting.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will also join the European delegation, but his office’s statement similarly didn’t confirm his participation in the discussions with Trump.

This collective visit highlights the determination of European leaders to ensure that Europe has a say in Trump’s peace negotiations, following the US president’s Friday summit with Putin—a meeting to which Zelenskyy was not invited.