U.S. President Donald Trump’s weekend post on Truth Social, declaring “BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED!”, has injected new uncertainty into the international peace efforts for Ukraine. The remark follows his recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which took place in Alaska and was the first instance of the Russian leader being on Western soil since his country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
While no concrete agreement was announced after the three-hour meeting, a U.S. special envoy, Steve Witkoff, later stated that Trump and Putin had agreed to “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine, which he described as “game-changing.” Furthermore, sources indicated that a peace plan involving a land swap—where Ukraine would cede a significant part of its eastern territory in exchange for Russia relinquishing small, occupied areas—was discussed.
The ambiguity and potential for an unfavorable peace deal have prompted a coordinated response from Europe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is traveling to Washington, D.C. to meet with Trump, and he will be joined by a formidable group of European leaders. This delegation includes French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The decision for these leaders to join Zelenskyy, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, highlights a shared concern over the direction of the peace talks. Their mission is to reinforce support for Ukraine and advocate for a just resolution that respects international law and prevents Ukraine from being forced into a deal that could undermine its long-term security.