US President Donald Trump has hosted seven European leaders at the White House, demonstrating rare trans-Atlantic unity behind Ukraine. The gathering marks the first time such a broad delegation of allies had assembled under pressing circumstances in decades.
The display of support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy comes after a disastrous visit to Washington in February and Trump’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have put aside their national agendas to present a united front.
The summit took place within days of the Putin-Trump meeting and ahead of a possible Trump-brokered meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy. US officials say the gathering reflects a crisis moment and demonstrates the urgency needed to resolve Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Inside the Oval Office, the meeting was seen as a boardroom-style session with Trump seated behind his historic Resolute desk, flanked by military flags. The display of unity has been hailed as striking, reflecting the speed at which events came together.
Trump also used the opportunity to showcase his support for Ukraine, thanking Zelenskyy and other leaders for their efforts to stop the war. The visit marked a reset for Zelenskyy after a tense Oval Office meeting earlier this year.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-zelenskyys-meeting-europe-leaders-historic-moment-russia-rcna225817