Trump’s Putin Talks Put Europe on the Defensive, Prompting Urgent D.C. Summit

U.S. President Donald Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin has put Europe on the defensive, prompting a powerful coalition of leaders to head to Washington, D.C., to meet with him. The mission, led by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is a direct response to Trump’s claim of having made “big progress” with Russia. The European leaders are concerned that Trump is pushing for a quick peace deal that is unfavorable to Ukraine.
The three-hour meeting in Alaska was the first time Putin had been on Western soil since the 2022 invasion. While no formal peace deal was announced, a U.S. special envoy, Steve Witkoff, stated that the leaders had agreed to “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine. Reports also suggest that a controversial land-for-peace proposal, which would see Ukraine cede a large swathe of eastern territory, was a key topic of discussion.
The European delegation joining Zelenskyy is a formidable group, including French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also be in attendance. Their presence underscores a united European front on the matter.
The purpose of the D.C. meeting is to ensure that any peace deal is not imposed on Ukraine. The leaders are committed to a resolution that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, directly pushing back against any pressure to accept a swift settlement that benefits Russia.