Washington, August 18(HS):

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington on Monday for high-stakes talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, joined by a powerful delegation of European leaders intent on safeguarding Kyiv’s interests in the search for peace with Russia.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and NATO officials are accompanying Zelenskyy to the White House, underscoring Europe’s determination not to be sidelined in the negotiations. Their presence follows Trump’s exclusive summit in Alaska with Vladimir Putin, where the U.S. leader hinted Kyiv should compromise by abandoning NATO ambitions and relinquishing Crimea.

Trump, eager to strike what he calls an “immediate” peace, has suggested Ukraine could end the war quickly if it accepts Moscow’s terms. Zelenskyy, however, insists any settlement must be “lasting” and not a repeat of the fragile calm that followed Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. European leaders back his stance, warning that premature concessions would only embolden the Kremlin.

The White House schedule lays out a tense diplomatic choreography: Trump and Zelenskyy first meet in the Oval Office with Vice President JD Vance, followed by a wider gathering with European leaders in the State Dining Room and East Room.

At stake are enforceable security guarantees for Ukraine as an alternative to NATO membership, with discussions centering on a possible defence pact. European officials warn the challenge for Zelenskyy is to avoid blame for stalling peace without yielding territory.

With Beijing urging “all parties” to pursue a compromise and Moscow continuing its assault on eastern Ukraine, the Washington summit has become a defining test of Western unity, Trump’s dealmaking ambitions, and Zelenskyy’s ability to hold firm under pressure.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar