Europe sets three goals ahead of Trump talks on Ukraine

CNBC reports.

Seven EU leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, will join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for talks at the White House. “The objective is mainly to support Zelenskyy,” a senior EU diplomat told CNBC. “The idea is to make sure [Trump] has the same objectives as Europe.”

According to EU officials, the agenda rests on three priorities: security guarantees for Ukraine, ending the bloodshed, and pushing for a trilateral Trump-Putin-Zelenskyy meeting.

Security guarantees

Ukraine has long pressed for firm reassurances if NATO membership remains off the table. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Putin had agreed in principle to let the West provide such guarantees. But one EU official warned that “NATO article-5 like security guarantees for Ukraine are great, but unclear what they will entail in practice.”

Former U.S. diplomat James Bindenagel told CNBC the deal could allow Western, but not NATO, forces in Ukraine to respond to any ceasefire violations.

Stop the killing

Putin has floated a ceasefire in exchange for Ukraine’s withdrawal from occupied regions, a proposal Kyiv rejects. Zelenskyy last week called such concessions a “springboard” for future Russian offensives.

“As long as the bloodshed in Ukraine continues, Europe will maintain diplomatic and, in particular, economic pressure on Russia,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday, pledging a 19th package of sanctions by September.

Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy

Finally, EU leaders want Trump’s backing for a direct summit involving himself, Putin, and Zelenskyy. “These are challenging times; only Ukraine can choose its own destiny,” von der Leyen said.

Trump has previously floated such a meeting but has stayed silent since the Alaska talks.