President Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday afternoon, coinciding with European officials arriving in Washington for critical talks regarding the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
According to two sources who spoke with News Nation, this marks the first official meeting between Trump and Zelensky.
It’s reminiscent of the Oval Office gathering from February, which had somewhat rocky outcomes, as both Trump and his allies criticized Zelensky’s approach to the war and voiced dissatisfaction with what they perceived as a lack of gratitude for U.S. assistance.
This earlier meeting amplified fears among European nations that the U.S. was distancing itself from Ukraine, potentially leaning towards Russia amid the war.
Such concerns intensified when news emerged about Trump planning a meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the week.
Several key European leaders are expected to attend Monday’s discussions, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who has cultivated a relationship with Trump, will also be in attendance.
On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed concerns that Zelensky might be coerced into an unfavorable agreement by the Trump administration.
“They’re not here tomorrow to let anyone pressure Zelensky,” Rubio said during an interview with CBS’s “Face the Nation.” He emphasized that collaboration with European partners was ongoing, noting recent talks held the previous week in the UK.
Rubio, present at the upcoming summit with Trump’s regional envoy, indicated that the U.S. has called on Putin to make compromises for a potential peace resolution. His remarks seemed aimed at signaling the U.S. intention to foster an agreement that would secure Ukrainian backing.
