Several European leaders are expected to show their support when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits the Oval Office on Monday to discuss peace efforts before Russia’s ongoing war.
French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen all confirmed they will be with Zelensky during his Washington visit after the recent meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Merz said on Sunday on X, "The Europeans will play a role in this: We will prepare it together."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was present at the talks between Trump and Putin on Friday in Alaska, told an NBC news programme on Sunday, "The only way to reach a deal is for each side to get something and each side to give something."
After a summit where European leaders reached an agreement for a ceasefire, Trump rescinded his calls for one in Ukraine. The European leaders are now trying to ensure that Zelensky is not pressured into making territorial concessions by a strong Trump.
In February, Trump denigrated Zelensky in an Oval Office meeting for his efforts to call for a peace deal and when he told him he didn't "have the cards," he was warned Zelensky was risking World War III.
"They're not coming here tomorrow to keep Zelensky from being bullied," Rubio said of the European leaders, bristling at the suggestion on CBS, calling it a "stupid media narrative".
"The President invited them to come," he added.
Trump and Rubio have conceded that the final decision on a peace deal was with Zelensky.
Merz said, "There are no territorial negotiations between Putin and Trump over the heads of Ukraine and the Europeans. That is good news."
After a strategy session with European leaders, Zelensky said on X, "Today in Brussels, I outlined our positions on Transatlantic unity, peace efforts, territorial issues, and security guarantees, including Ukraine's (right to) EU accession."
"It's crucial that Europe remains as united as it was in 2022. This strong unity is essential to achieve a real peace," he added.
"There is clear support for Ukraine's independence and sovereignty," he said.
"Everyone agrees that borders must not be changed by force" and "key issues must be resolved with Ukraine's participation in a trilateral format -- Ukraine, the US, and the Russian chief," he said.
He also recognized a major concession that Trump secured from Putin: a security guarantee for Ukraine in which the United States would play an active role.
"This is a historic decision that the United States is ready to take part in security guarantees for Ukraine" which he said, "must be developed with Europe's participation" and cover land, sea and air.
Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who was at the summit, told CNN, "We agreed to robust security guarantees that I would describe as game changing."
He said that Putin had agreed to enacting legislation promising Russia wouldn't invade Ukraine or other countries.
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