Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a series of meetings with leaders of European countries, as well as with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, ahead of upcoming negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled for August 18 in Washington.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Coordinating Efforts for Peace in Ukraine
After the meetings at the Ukrainian embassy, Zelensky released a video address in which he emphasized the importance of a united stance among Western partners regarding the cessation of war and the establishment of sustainable peace for Ukraine and all of Europe. The president stressed that without decisive pressure from the U.S. and Europe, one cannot expect a voluntary renunciation of aggression from Vladimir Putin, making a joint strategy of action necessary.
“We must stop the killings, and I thank the partners who are working towards this and ultimately for a reliable and dignified peace. Together with the leaders of Finland, the United Kingdom, Italy, the European Commission, and the NATO Secretary General, we coordinated our positions ahead of the meeting with President Trump. Ukraine is ready for a real ceasefire and the establishment of a new security architecture. We need peace,” the president stated.
Support from European Allies and Security Guarantees
Ursula von der Leyen announced her arrival in Washington alongside Zelensky and European leaders. She highlighted the importance of joint efforts to end the bloodshed and achieve a just peace in Ukraine.
Zelensky noted that the main agenda item for the upcoming meeting with Trump is obtaining effective security guarantees from the U.S. that can prevent further aggression from Russia. He emphasized that the support of key European allies will be a crucial factor in these negotiations.
On August 15, negotiations took place in Alaska between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, during which the main topic was the conclusion of Russia’s war against Ukraine. However, no specific results from these negotiations have been reported so far.