Euro leaders voice skepticism on Putin terms as Trump hosts Zelenskyy

The optics were warm and cordial.

President Trump praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s wearing of a dark suit to the White House, and put an arm over the Ukrainian leader’s shoulder when he greeted him at the White House entrance. Zelenskyy-- though he presumably has no shortage of maps of Ukraine marking the current front line of Russia’s invasion--made a point of admiring a map of Ukraine that was placed on an easel in the Oval Office during their meeting, and Trump graciously offered to get him one.

But some European leaders accompanying Zelenskyy to the White House today made clear that they did not accept Trump’s abrupt abandonment of a push for a ceasefire in Ukraine after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, evidently because of Putin’s refusal to accept one.

“We all would like to see a ceasefire,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, when Trump went around the table inviting the assembled heads of state to say a few remarks ahead of their closed door meetings. Present, in addition to Merz, Zelenskyy, and Trump, were French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alex Stubb, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

“I can’t imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire,” Merz continued. “So let’s work on that and let’s try to put pressure on Russia … I would like to see a ceasefire from the next meeting, which should be a trilateral meeting wherever it takes place.”

“To stop the killing as we discuss [a permanent deal] is a necessity,” Macron said.

“All of us would obviously prefer an immediate ceasefire while we work on lasting peace,” Trump acknowledged in remarks at the top of meeting before going around the table inviting the assembled – “Mr. President” Zelenskyy, “Mark” Rutte, the NATO Secretary General; the European Commission President “Ursula” von der Leyen; Finnish President “Alex” Stubb, “Emmanuel” Macron of France-- to say a few words. “And maybe something like that could happen. At this moment, it’s not happening.”

Trump remarked several times today on his great relations with Putin to a room-full of leaders more clear-eyed and skeptical about Putin’s continued maximalist demands, as well as the leader of the country which continues to be bombarded day and night by Russia. Trump said he planned