Published Time: 08-18-2025, 12:00

European and NATO leaders will accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to secure military support and stronger security guarantees. This coordinated approach follows Zelenskyy’s exclusion from Trump’s recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and seeks to reinforce Kyiv’s position.

European Leaders Rally Behind Zelenskyy

Leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Finland confirmed Sunday that they will join Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday. Their presence aims to provide diplomatic support and prevent a repeat of February’s tense Oval Office meeting, in which Trump sharply criticized the Ukrainian president.

Retired French General Dominique Trinquand, former head of France’s military mission at the United Nations, said, “The Europeans are 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.”

Security Guarantees and Peace Efforts

During his Alaska summit with Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly agreed that the U.S. and its European allies could offer Ukraine security guarantees similar to NATO’s collective defense pledge. Special U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff called this development “game-changing,” noting it was the first time Russia indicated openness to such guarantees.

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that European leaders will ask Trump to support plans to strengthen Ukraine’s armed forces, already the largest in Europe outside Russia, through training, equipment, and long-term funding. “We need a credible format for the Ukrainian army,” Macron said. “We Europeans and Americans must decide how we’ll train, equip, and finance this effort.”

The European plan also envisions allied forces stationed away from the front lines, providing reassurance that peace can be maintained and deterring another potential Russian invasion. Macron highlighted that “several thousand men on the ground in Ukraine in the zone of peace” would demonstrate that “our fates are linked.”

Coordination Among International Partners

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reinforced Macron’s message, stating, “We welcome President Trump’s willingness to contribute to Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine. The coalition of the willing—including the European Union—is ready to do its share.”

Other European leaders confirmed their participation, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Their collective support aims to reassure Kyiv that Ukraine will not be pressured into premature agreements.

Neil Melvin, director of international security at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said European leaders are working to “shape this fast-evolving agenda” after the Alaska summit, where the focus has shifted from ceasefire discussions toward long-term security arrangements and preventing Ukraine from joining NATO or the EU under duress.

Ceasefire or Full Peace Deal?

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a ceasefire remains “not off the table,” but a comprehensive peace deal is considered the best path forward. Putin has resisted meeting Zelenskyy in person, insisting that groundwork for a peace deal must be established first. He also suggested that European nations could inadvertently create obstacles through “behind-the-scenes intrigue.”

For Zelenskyy, European participation is essential to gain entry into high-level discussions about Ukraine’s future and broader European security, according to Melvin. However, with so many leaders attending, the group must avoid sending mixed messages. “The risk is they look heavy-handed and are ganging up on Trump,” Melvin added.

Substantive Security Commitments

While discussions on Article 5-like guarantees remain in early stages, such guarantees would likely mirror NATO terms, where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. Zelenskyy has stressed that meaningful security commitments require a strong Ukrainian military, European funding, and access to U.S.-provided weapons.

“A security guarantee is a strong army. Only Ukraine can provide that. Only Europe can finance this army, and weapons for this army can be provided by our domestic production and European production. Some items are only available in the United States,” Zelenskyy said at a press conference alongside von der Leyen.

Zelenskyy also countered Trump’s proposal—aligned with Putin’s preference—to negotiate a full end to the war immediately. Instead, he argued that a ceasefire is necessary to review Russia’s demands and create conditions for meaningful negotiations. “It’s impossible to do this under the pressure of weapons,” he said. “Putin does not want to stop the killing, but he must do it.”

Next Steps

Monday’s talks in Washington will be a critical test of coordination between Ukraine, European powers, and the United States. Leaders aim to outline concrete plans for military support, long-term security guarantees, and strategies to deter further Russian aggression. The meeting also seeks to ensure Ukraine’s voice is central in shaping peace agreements and regional security.

Source: AP News – European leaders to join Ukraine’s Zelenskyy for meeting with Trump

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WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Israel has agreed to the terms of a proposed 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, and he’s now putting the pressure on Hamas to accept the deal — warning the group that the opportunity won’t come again.

“Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60-day ceasefire,” Trump posted, adding that Qatar and Egypt would deliver the final proposal to Hamas. “I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.”

Talks Heat Up Ahead of Netanyahu’s U.S. Visit

Trump’s announcement comes just days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the White House for high-level talks on the war in Gaza, regional security, and Iran. The former president has been ramping up diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and a hostage release deal, aiming to end a war that has dragged on for nearly 21 months.

In Washington, Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer met Tuesday with senior U.S. officials — including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff — to discuss the ceasefire proposal and other key issues.

Earlier in the day, Trump expressed confidence that Netanyahu is ready to make a deal.

“He wants to,” Trump told reporters while touring a Florida immigration detention center. “I think we’ll have a deal next week.”

The Ceasefire Plan: Still a Stalemate?

Despite Trump’s optimism, the central sticking point remains: What happens after the ceasefire?

• Hamas says it’s willing to release all remaining hostages (about 50, with fewer than half believed to be alive) in exchange for a full Israeli troop withdrawal and a complete end to the war.
• Israel, on the other hand, demands that Hamas surrender, disarm, and go into exile — a nonstarter for the militant group.

Trump has tried to frame this new ceasefire push as a turning point in the war. But Hamas may see his rhetoric as just more pressure tactics, especially since previous ceasefire efforts — including the war’s longest pause in March — have collapsed without lasting results.

War’s Toll Still Rising in Gaza

Meanwhile, the situation on the ground in Gaza remains dire. Over 56,000 people have been killed since the conflict began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

• At least 37 people were killed Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital.
• Witnesses also reported the deaths of at least 10 Palestinians waiting in line for food aid, prompting outrage from over 150 international aid groups, including Oxfam, Save the Children, and Amnesty International. These groups are now calling for the dismantling of the Israeli- and U.S.-backed aid distribution system, citing ongoing chaos and violence at food sites.

“Tents, tents — they are hitting with two missiles?” cried Um Seif Abu Leda, whose son was among the victims.

Houthi Missiles and Regional Tensions

As Gaza suffers, the wider region simmers.

On Tuesday, sirens wailed across Israel as the country intercepted missiles launched from both Gaza and Yemen. It marked the first Houthi rebel attack since the end of the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict last month — a conflict that reportedly damaged key Iranian nuclear sites in joint Israeli-U.S. strikes.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Yemen could face the same fate as Tehran if attacks continue. In response, Houthi spokesperson Nasruddin Amer doubled down, saying Yemen would not stop its support for Gaza until “the aggression stops and the siege is lifted.”

Next Week: All Eyes on Washington

As Netanyahu heads to Washington, he’s expected to discuss not just the ceasefire and Gaza — but also a potential trade deal and follow-up on Trump’s Iran ceasefire initiative. For now, Trump is urging Hamas to take the deal on the table before, as he put it, “things get worse.”

The coming week could determine whether the region inches closer to peace — or plunges back into deeper chaos.

Source: AP News – Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urges Hamas to accept deal

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