Washington. Ukraine’s future could hinge on a hastily arranged White House meeting Monday as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, joined by a rare lineup of Europe’s most influential leaders, seeks to present U.S. President Donald Trump with a united front against Russia’s aggression.

The gathering comes just days after Trump’s one-on-one summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, a meeting that excluded European allies and alarmed capitals across the continent. Monday’s talks are seen as an effort to safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty and prevent Moscow from extending its influence deeper into Eastern Europe.

Security was tight across downtown Washington as convoys of SUVs ferried leaders to the White House. Police checkpoints and blocked roads cleared Pennsylvania Avenue of its usual crowd of tourists. Inside, the schedule was packed: Trump met first with Zelenskyy before hosting a joint session with European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

The stakes are high. Russia currently controls about 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory, and Putin has demanded Kyiv surrender the eastern Donbas region as a condition for peace. He also insists the West recognize Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. Trump appeared to echo those demands in a Sunday night post, suggesting Zelenskyy should accept Moscow’s claims. “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to,” Trump wrote on social media, warning there would be “NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE.”

Zelenskyy has flatly rejected territorial concessions, citing Ukraine’s constitution, which forbids giving up land. Instead, Kyiv seeks NATO-style security guarantees to prevent future invasions. “The war must be brought to an end. And it is Moscow that must hear ‘stop,’” Zelenskyy wrote in a statement Monday, condemning fresh Russian strikes on Kharkiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia that killed civilians and damaged critical infrastructure.

European leaders backed him, warning that Ukraine’s defense is inseparable from Europe’s own security. Macron called Ukraine an “outpost of our collective defense,” adding, “If we are weak with Russia today, we’ll be preparing the conflicts of tomorrow.”

The meeting comes as Russia intensifies attacks. A drone strike on Kharkiv late Sunday killed six civilians, including a toddler and a teenager, and injured at least 20 more. Ukraine’s Air Force reported Russia launched more than 140 drones and four ballistic missiles overnight, most of which were intercepted.

Despite the grim backdrop, Trump’s aides suggested new options are on the table. Envoy Steve Witkoff floated a “game-changing” security arrangement resembling NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense pledge, though details remain unclear. Such a pact could offer Kyiv long-term protection without formal NATO membership, which Moscow fiercely opposes.

Still, Trump appeared to balance global diplomacy with domestic politics. Hours before the summit, he previewed an executive order targeting voting procedures ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, vowing to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines. He also weighed in on the Israel-Gaza conflict, calling for Hamas to be “confronted and destroyed” before hostages could be released.

For Zelenskyy and his European allies, the White House session is about more than symbolism. With battlefield momentum stalled and domestic unity under strain, Ukraine is counting on Western resolve. Whether Trump, who has signaled openness to Putin’s terms, will align with his transatlantic partners remains the pressing question.

“Everyone wants a just peace and true security,” Zelenskyy said. “This is the moment to decide whether Russia is stopped in Ukraine, or whether its aggression spreads further.”

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