Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump have officially commenced their discussions with European leaders at the White House, aiming to address the pressing issue of security guarantees for Ukraine. Among the key figures in attendance are Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, and Germany’s Friedrich Merz, as well as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission.

During the meeting, Trump remarked that Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to consider security guarantees for Ukraine, emphasising that European nations will bear a significant portion of the burden. European leaders have reacted positively to this development, with Von der Leyen stating it is promising to see collaboration around security guarantees akin to NATO’s Article Five.

French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the importance of establishing a credible Ukrainian army as part of the security guarantees. Earlier, both Zelenskyy and Trump had met in the Oval Office, where Trump mentioned that the United States would take part in providing these guarantees, though he did not confirm whether it would involve the presence of US troops.

The significance of the discussions lies in the potential for a trilateral meeting involving Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin if today’s talks yield positive results. Trump’s previous engagements with Putin had raised concerns, particularly his demands regarding the control of eastern Ukrainian regions, making these discussions crucial for the future security landscape in Europe.