After Donald Trump’s much anticipated peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to arrive at a positive conclusion to the end its war in Ukraine, the US President is now set to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Vlodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday evening.

It is worth highlighting here that the Zelenskyy is back in the United States to meet Trump over a solution for the Russia war, around 6 months after their February meeting ended in nothing but a fiasco. Earlier this year, Zelenskyy was expected to sign a critical minerals deal with the US. He, however, left early after a clash with Trump in the Oval Office.

Already landed in the US ahead of the big meeting with Trump at the White House, Zelenskyy this time is joined by European leaders and Nato. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that she, along with other top leaders, will stand alongside Zelenskyy in the White House.

I have already arrived in Washington, tomorrow I am meeting with President Trump. Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS for the invitation. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting. Not…

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 18, 2025

Trump-Zelenskyy meeting: Who all are participating?

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy would be joined by a host of European leaders this time when he meets US President Trump. “At the request of President Zelenskyy, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders in the White House tomorrow,” von der Leyen said in a post on social media platform X.

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

Among other leaders set to attend the Monday (August 18) meeting are Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. UK PM Keir Starmer will also be joining Zelenskyy at the White House at 10:45 pm.

Apart from Europe’s wide support to Ukraine, the move is also being seen as an effort to ensure that the US does not enter into a deal that favours Russia and the February fiasco is not repeated. The joint visit highlights Europe’s determination to secure a say in Trump’s peace efforts.

Will Russia-Ukraine war finally end?

US President Trump has said the Ukrainian president can end Russia’s war “if he wants to”, but there will be “no going into Nato by Ukraine” as part of a peace deal. Hours ahead of his key meeting with Zelensky at the White House, Trump noted that there would be “no getting back” the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014.

BIG DAY at the White House tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/EvuDxBuAam

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 18, 2025

Trump’s comments came after his summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska that resulted in the US president dropping a demand for a ceasefire and calling instead for a permanent peace deal.

Russia-Ukraine War: A trilateral meeting soon?

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, ahead of Trump-Zelenskyy meeting, said that a three-way summit could take place in Europe. Such a meeting was suggested by Trump, which would include him, Ukrainian President Zelensky and Russian President Putin. “I think that such a three-way meeting will take place,” Merz said in an interview with TV networks NTV and RTL.

“The date and place are still to be worked out. We have proposed that a place could be found in Europe,” he added.