European leaders to meet with Trump at White House alongside Zelensky tomorrow after Putin showdown... but Starmer has yet to confirm he will travel
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European leaders have revealed they will join Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky when he meets Donald Trump for peace talks at the White House tomorrow.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and France’s Emmanuel Macron will all travel to Washington DC.

Mr Zelensky’s Oval Office rendezvous with the US President will take place after Western allies meet for a ‘coalition of the willing’ video call this afternoon.

Today’s call will be hosted by Mr Macron, Mr Merz and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has not confirmed whether he will travel to Washington tomorrow.

Ms Von der Leyen said ‘at the request of President Zelensky, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders in the White House tomorrow.’

Other European leaders confirming they will go tomorrow included Finnish president Alexander Stubb, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte.

The show of unity by European leaders comes as Mr Trump appears poised to urge the Ukrainian leader to agree to a Russian land grab of his country’s territory.

Russian president Vladimir Putin is said to have demanded full control of Donetsk and Luhansk – two occupied Ukrainian regions – as a condition for ending the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky listens at the Mariinskyi Palace in Kiev yesterday during a conference call with Donald Trump and European partners after the Alaska summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky listens at the Mariinskyi Palace in Kiev yesterday during a conference call with Donald Trump and European partners after the Alaska summit 

(From left) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the Presidential Palace in Kyiv after a "coalition of the willing" meeting on May 10

(From left) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the Presidential Palace in Kyiv after a ‘coalition of the willing’ meeting on May 10

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

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

A Russian tank fires during a practice session at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on Friday

A Russian tank fires during a practice session at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on Friday

Damaged cars and buildings after a reported Ukrainian strike in Kursk, Russia, on Friday

Damaged cars and buildings after a reported Ukrainian strike in Kursk, Russia, on Friday

In exchange, he would give up other Ukrainian territories held by Russian troops, according to sources familiar with Mr Putin and Mr Trump’s negotiations in Alaska on Friday.

Mr Trump is said to be inclined to support the plan, and will speak to Mr Zelensky about it when they meet in the Oval Office.

The European leaders may also fear a repeat of Mr Zelensky’s last visit to the White House at the end of February.

The tumultuous spat resulted in a souring of relations between the US and Ukraine, including a temporary cut off of American aid for the war effort.

Mr Trump appeared to change his position on how to end the war in Ukraine following his meeting with the Russian president on Friday.

Following the Alaska summit, the American leader suggested he wants to move straight to a full peace deal, rather than negotiating a ceasefire first.

A Russian tank at a practice on a training ground in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on Friday

A Russian tank at a practice on a training ground in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on Friday

Russia's President Vladimir Putin addresses senior officials t the Kremlin in Moscow yesterday

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin addresses senior officials t the Kremlin in Moscow yesterday

A Russian soldier carries an ammunition during a practice at a location in Ukraine on Friday

A Russian soldier carries an ammunition during a practice at a location in Ukraine on Friday

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin shake hands after a joint press conference following the US-Russia summit on Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin shake hands after a joint press conference following the US-Russia summit on Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday

Volodymyr Zelensky faced a heated encounter when he met Donald Trump in February

Volodymyr Zelensky faced a heated encounter when he met Donald Trump in February

The shift appears to echo the Russians’ refusal to agree to ceasefire before engaging in peace talks.

Writing on social media last night, the Ukrainian leader railed against Russia’s refusal to lay down arms temporarily before agreeing to end the war.

Mr Zelensky said: ‘We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation.’

He added: ‘If they lack the will to carry out a simple order to stop the strikes, it may take a lot of effort to get Russia to have the will to implement far greater – peaceful coexistence with its neighbours for decades.

‘But together we are working for peace and security. Stopping the killing is a key element of stopping the war.’

Mr Zelensky is expected to attend this afternoon’s video call with leaders from the ‘coalition of the willing’, scheduled to take place at 2pm UK time.

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