Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not be alone while meeting US President Donald Trump in Washington DC, on Monday for talks aimed at ending the conflict with Russia. Several leaders from all across Europe and even NATO will be joining the meeting, keeping in mind the showdown that happened between Trump and Zelensky the last time the Ukrainian leader was in the US capital.(AP File)

Several leaders from all across Europe and even NATO will be joining the meeting, keeping in mind the showdown that happened between Trump and Zelensky the last time the Ukrainian leader was in the US capital.

The meeting comes days after Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska for summit talks, where the latter reportedly put a demand that Ukraine hand over the eastern region of Donbas to end the war.

The list of leaders joining the Donald Trump-Volodymyr Zelensky talks in Washington

A long list of leaders from across Europe has confirmed their attendance at the talks between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, DC, on Monday. These include several Presidents and Prime Ministers of European nations and even NATO officials. Here is a list of confirmed attendees:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz

Finnish President Alexander Stubb

French President Emmanuel Macron

NATO Secretary-General, Mark Rutte

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Earlier on Sunday, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz also hosted the France-led ‘Coalition of the Willing’ meeting, where European allies met over video call to discuss the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska on Friday.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined the call and praised Trump’s efforts, Reuters reported. He said the US President had “brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine”. He reiterated Europe’s “unwavering” support for Ukraine.

“While progress has been made, the next step must be further talks involving President Zelensky,” Starmer said in a statement issued by his office later.

He added that Putin must stop “his barbaric assault”. “We will keep tightening the screws on his war machine with even more sanctions, which have already had a punishing impact on the Russian economy and its people,” Starmer said.

The coalition meeting came after Saturday’s joint statement, in which Macron, Merz, Starmer, and other European Union (EU) leaders welcomed Trump’s meeting with Putin, which ended without a ceasefire agreement for now.

“As President Trump said, ‘there’s no deal until there’s a deal’. As envisioned by President Trump, the next step must now be further talks, including President Zelensky, whom he will meet soon,” it said.

“No limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or on its cooperation with third countries. Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine‘s pathway to the EU and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation). It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory. International borders must not be changed by force,” the statement added.

The statement came after some media reports indicated that Putin expects Ukraine to withdraw from the Donbas region, parts of which Russia has attempted to occupy during the conflict. The Financial Times reported that the Russian President told Trump he would “freeze the conflict” if his demands were met.

Zelensky, however, has said he won’t agree to give away any territory or “land swap,” as Trump suggested.

European leaders including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and France’s President Emmanuel Macron are set to join Zelenksyy in Washington. Picture: Getty

By Danielle de Wolfe

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to be joined by key European figures including Sir Keir Starmer, Nato General Secretary Mark Rutte and Ursula von der Leyen, for crunch talks with Donald Trump in Washington.

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Recent hours have seen a growing list of European figures throw their support behind the Ukrainian President, announcing their attendance at Monday’s White House summit. Number 10 has now confirmed that Sir Keir Starmer will be in attendance, joining fellow European leaders in support of Ukraine after co-chairing the so-called ‘Coalition of the Willing’ on Sunday. Donald Trump’s administration extended invitations to a host of leaders ahead of the meeting, with Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, Germany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emanuel Macron also accepting invites. Zelenskyy is set to meet von der Leyen in Brussels this afternoon, before the pair fly to the US ahead of the meeting. The leaders will be hoping for a more favourable outcome than was seen following Trump and Zelenskyy’s last White House showdown, with Europe’s show of support intended to send a strong signal to the US President. It comes as Donald Trump looks set to back Vladimir Putin’s demands that any ceasefire agreement would require Ukraine to surrender the mineral-rich Donbas region to Russia. Read more: ‘Russia is not our enemy’ Farage adviser insists – as he claims UK ‘would be better off’ if it had not fought in WW2 Read more: BrewDog beers axed from almost 2,000 pubs across Britain

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to number 10 Downing Street, London. Picture: Alamy

In a statement released by Number 10 on Sunday, the Prime Minister announced that he “would join President Zelenskyy, and European leaders, for a meeting with President Trump at the White House tomorrow. “This follows the Prime Minister commending President Trump’s efforts to end Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, reasserting his position that the path to peace cannot be decided without President Zelenskyy, and co-chairing a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing this afternoon (Sunday 17 August) to discuss the progress to provide Ukraine with robust security guarantees in the event of any deal. “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.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Olena Zelenska will join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and others for the White House meeting. Picture: Alamy

Friday night saw Trump meet with Putin in Alaska, with the US President rolling out the red carpet for the Russian leader. It was a move denounced by many, given the outstanding international arrest warrants issued for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC). It comes as several outlets claim that during Friday night’s negotiations with Trump, Mr Putin demanded full control of Donetsk and Luhansk – two occupied Ukrainian regions – as a condition for ending the war.

This afternoon, I will welcome @ZelenskyyUa in Brussels.

Together, we will participate in the Coalition of Willing VTC.

At the request of President Zelenskyy, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders in the White House tomorrow. — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 17, 2025

In return for the mineral-rich territories, the Kremlin said the front line would be frozen and no further territory would be taken. A source close to the matter told AFP Putin “de facto demands that Ukraine leave Donbas” and “Trump is included to support it”. A Republican source close to Mr Trump told The Telegraph: “The president wants to stop the killing and end the war. “That’s the bottom line. “Negotiations over territory are part of that process. The ball is in Zelensky’s court.”

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Picture: Getty

The US President reportedly heard these demands during their meeting in Alaska on Friday. Mr Trump will speak to Mr Zelensky about it on Monday when they meet in the Oval Office, reports claim. Sir Keir Starmer will speak to the so-called “coalition of the willing” tomorrow ahead of Volodymyr Zelensky’s White House meeting with Donald Trump on Monday. The Prime Minister, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz will host the meeting on Sunday afternoon. The coalition, made up of 30-plus nations, is prepared to deter Russian aggression by putting troops on the ground in Ukraine once the war is over. Read More: Starmer ‘commends’ Trump peace efforts as European leaders say next step must be ‘trilateral summit’ with Zelenskyy The meeting, which is expected to take place at approximately 2pm UK time, comes on the heels of US President Mr Trump’s summit in Alaska with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

The Prime Minister (right centre), France’s Emmanuel Macron (left centre) and Germany’s Friedrich Merz (right) will host the meeting on Sunday afternoon. Picture: Alamy

Mr Trump hoped to secure a peace deal from the talks at a military base in Anchorage, but both he and Mr Putin walked away without agreement on how to end the war in Ukraine. The US leader, however, insisted “some great progress” was made, with “many points” agreed and “very few” remaining. Read More: Zelenskyy to meet Trump in Washington on Monday following ‘no deal’ Alaska peace summit Read More: To stop Putin’s horrors, we must first drain his war chest

It comes as Mr Trump confirmed that Zelenskyy would meet him at the White House on Monday, in what many hope will not be a re-run of the pair’s last Oval Office visit. Picture: Alamy

After the Alaska summit, the US president told Fox News it was now up to Mr Zelensky to “make a deal” to end the war. Sir Keir commended Mr Trump’s “pursuit of an end to the killing” following a phone call with the US president, Mr Zelensky and Nato allies on Saturday morning. But he insisted Ukraine’s leader must not be excluded from future talks to broker a peace in Ukraine. It comes as Mr Trump confirmed that Zelenskyy would meet him at the White House on Monday, in what many hope will not be a re-run of the pair’s last Oval Office visit.

Download the new LBC app. Picture: LBC

A posse of European leaders will join the meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she will join the talk “at the request of President Zelenskyy”, adding that she “and other European leaders” will be meeting at the White House on Monday.

Also set to join in are Sir Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

Mr Stubb’s friendship with Mr Trump is said to have blossomed since the pair bonded over their love of golf during a tournament at Mar-a-Lago in March.

Follow the latest developments on the Ukraine war

Image: Donald Trump and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb during a golf tournament at Mar-a-Lago. Pic: Finnish Presidential Office/Reuters

Mr Stubb previously said that Mr Trump is “the only person who can broker a peace” deal, saying the US president was “the only one that Putin is afraid of”.

Bringing a gang of leaders along could be an attempt by Mr Zelenskyy to prevent a repeat of the infamous Oval Office showdown with Mr Trump and the vice-president, JD Vance, in February.

Image: Zelenskyy and Trump during their exchange in the Oval Office. Pic: Reuters

They were set to discuss a potential ceasefire with Russia and a mineral deal between Ukraine and the US, but their meeting descended into chaos when Mr Vance berated Ukraine’s leader for being insufficiently grateful for US help – in front of the media.

He completed his ambush of Mr Zelenskyy by mocking him for not wearing a suit, with Mr Trump adding that the Ukrainian didn’t “have the cards right now with us”.

The disastrous meeting ended with Mr Zelenskyy prematurely leaving the White House. He later said the bust-up was “not good for both sides”.

Analysis: Zelenskyy knows he risks another ambush

Image: Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump argued in the White House. Pic: Reuters

At the US-Russia summit on Friday, Mr Trump (quite literally) rolled out the red carpet for Mr Putin and even let the Russian leader take a ride with him in the presidential limousine dubbed The Beast.

Mr Zelenskyy is set for a less warm welcome, with no red carpet or fly past, no round of applause, according to Sky News’ US correspondent Martha Kelner.

The atmosphere may be more businesslike with European leaders like Mr Stubb in Mr Zelenskyy’s corner, and their inclusion as mediators could help prevent a repeat of the Oval Office clash.

Image: Mr Putin and Mr Trump greet each other on the red carpet in Alaska. Pic: Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/Pool/EPA/Shutterstock

Mr Stubb has repeatedly voiced support for Ukraine, and Finland, along with other Nordic countries and the three Baltic states, has been among the country’s staunchest supporters.

The 2022 invasion prompted Finland, which shares a 1,340-km (833-mile) border with Russia, to join NATO two years ago, upending decades of non-alignment.

Read more from Sky News:

Putin ‘demands key regions of Ukraine’

Body language expert unpacks summit

Two days before the Alaska summit, Mr Zelenskyy, Mr Trump and European leaders, including Mr Stubb, were on a conference call, after which the Finnish leader wrote on X: “Excellent meeting with @Potus and European leaders, including @ZelenskyyUA. Aligned views and unity.

“We are working together for a ceasefire and a sustainable peace. We are there for Ukraine every step of the way. The next few days and weeks can be decisive.”

Whether any other European leaders will accompany Mr Zelenskyy will likely be confirmed late Sunday following a conference call between members of the “coalition of the willing”.

Retired French General Dominique Trinquand, a former head of France’s military mission at the United Nations, said European leaders were “very afraid of the Oval Office scene being repeated and so they want to support Mr Zelenskyy to the hilt”.

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

Ursula von der Leyen and European leaders to accompany Zelenskyy in White House meeting with Trump

Ursula von der Leyen and European leaders to accompany Zelenskyy in White House meeting with Trump

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to arrive in Brussels where he will meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The pair will then together participate in the virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

In a post on X, von der Leyen says she will then join Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday to participate in his meeting with US President Donald Trump, at Zelenskyy’s request.

The Commission president noted that other European leaders will also join the meeting, but it’s not clear as of yet whether they will be travelling to Washington or joining virtually.

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Berlin says Merz will also be travelling to the US capital on Monday to join the talks.

“The trip will serve as an exchange of information with US President Donald Trump following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska,” said the chancellor’s spokesperson.

Macron, Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte have all also confirmed their attendance.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is also believed to be attending. Italian media say Meloni has cut her holiday short and returned to Rome on Sunday to prepare to travel to the United States.

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Zelenskyy’s White House visit is the first since February’s dramatic showdown in the Oval Office between the Ukrainian leader, Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

It also comes after Trump’s Friday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a military base in Alaska.

Our journalists are working on this story and will update it as soon as more information becomes available.

Sir Keir Starmer is set to travel to Washington for talks on the war in Ukraine on Monday.

The Prime Minister will join Ukrainian President Zelensky, and European leaders, for a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

It follows the Prime Minister commending President Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine. **ARE YOU READING THIS ON OUR APP? DOWNLOAD NOW FOR THE BEST GB NEWS EXPERIENCE** In a statement, Downing Street said that this visit will “reassert his position that the path to peace cannot be decided without President Zelensky, and co-chairing a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing this afternoon to discuss the progress to provide Ukraine with robust security guarantees in the event of any deal”.

It added: “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.” However, initial negotiations between Mr Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday failed to secure a peace deal. The two leaders had been locked in negotiations for three hours, with Mr Trump now opening the door to further talks in Moscow. Mr Trump also said that the meeting was “extremely productive” and the pair had “made headway”. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Donald Trump says ‘no deal’ after three hours of talks with Vladimir Putin as next steps set out

Vladimir Putin ‘demanded Donetsk’ in peace talks with Donald Trump

Donald Trump says just ‘one big thing’ halted Ukraine peace deal from getting done

Sir Keir Starmer is set to travel to Washington for talks on the war in Ukraine on Monday | GETTY

Mr Trump, Sir Keir, Mr Zelensky, and the leaders from the Coalition of the Willing all released statements following the summit. Meanwhile, President Putin warned European leaders and Mr Zelensky not to interfere in the “emerging progress”. He said: “We expect that Kyiv and European capitals will perceive all this in a constructive manner and will not create any obstacles, will not make attempts to disrupt the emerging progress through provocations and behind-the-scenes intrigues”. Despite the stark warning, the Ukrainian President announced on Saturday that the US President had invited him to meet in Washington on Monday. Other European leaders, including Germany’s Friedrich Merz, France’s Emmanuel Macron and the European Commission’s Ursula von der Leyen, have also announced they will be attending.

The coalition of the Willing was established to help bring peace in Eastern Europe |

The Prime Minister last met with Mr Trump at the end of July during a visit by the US President to his private golf course in Scotland. Prior to this meeting, Sir Keir travelled to Washington in February, where he invited the US leader to a unprecedented second state visit set to take place later this year. It was the first time the Prime Minister had visited the White House since Trump won the 2024 US Presidential Election. Monday will also mark the first time President Zelensky will set foot on US soil since their last Oval Office meeting descended into an extraordinary row over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A peace deal in Ukraine failed to be agreed upon following three hours of talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on Friday |

However, a high-ranking Ukrainian MP voiced concern about Mr Trump’s talks with President Putin, accusing the summit as similar to the appeasement of Adolf Hitler in 1938. Oleksandr Merezhko, who chairs the foreign affairs committee in Kyiv, warned that the American President had fallen into Moscow’s trap by abandoning calls for an immediate ceasefire and accused the US of “playing into Vladimir Putin’s hands”. “It looks like Munich 1938,” Mr Merezhko told The Telegraph, invoking the notorious conference where Britain and France permitted Nazi Germany to annex Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland. Despite concern in Kyiv, Ukraine, along with its European allies, seem willing to cooperate with President Trump in his mission to create peace in Europe.

President Zelensky released a statement |

READ IN FULL: Sir Keir Starmer’s statement Sir Keir Starmer released a statement on behalf of the UK following the Alaska summit. It read: “President Trump’s efforts have brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. His leadership in pursuit of an end to the killing should be commended. “While progress has been made, the next step must be further talks involving President Zelenskyy. The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without him. “This morning, I spoke to President Zelenskyy, President Trump and other European partners, and we all stand ready to support this next phase. “I welcome the openness of the United States, alongside Europe, to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal. This is important progress and will be crucial in deterring Putin from coming back for more. “In the meantime, until he stops his barbaric assault, we will keep tightening the screws on his war machine with even more sanctions, which have already had a punishing impact on the Russian economy and its people. “Our unwavering support for Ukraine will continue as long as it takes.”

READ IN FULL: Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement President Zelensky wrote on social media following the Alaska summit: “We had a long and substantive conversation with POTUS. We started with one-on-one talks before inviting European leaders to join us. This call lasted for more than an hour and a half, including about an hour of our bilateral conversation with President Trump. “Ukraine reaffirms its readiness to work with maximum effort to achieve peace. President Trump informed about his meeting with the Russian leader and the main points of their discussion. It is important that America’s strength has an impact on the development of the situation. We support President Trump’s proposal for a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the USA, and Russia. “Ukraine emphasises that key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this. “On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war. I am grateful for the invitation. It is important that Europeans are involved at every stage to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America. “We also discussed positive signals from the American side regarding participation in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security. We continue to coordinate our positions with all partners. I thank everyone who is helping.”

Donald Trump released a statement |

READ IN FULL: Donald Trump’s response to talks with Vladimir Putin Following the meeting in Alaska, President Trump wrote: “A great and very successful day in Alaska! The meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia went very well, as did a late night phone call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, and various European Leaders, including the highly respected Secretary General of NATO. “It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up. “President Zelenskyy will be coming to D.C., the Oval Office, on Monday afternoon. “If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin. Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”