Trump, Zelensky, Putin: who will be in Washington today and what Europe wants to achieve

Europe runs to Washington. The crucial meeting for the fate of the war in Ukraine is held today to the White House: in addition to the Ukrainian president Volodymir Zelenskyexpected by the American president Donald Trumpseveral European leaders will also participate, including the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Finnish President Alexander Stub, the former Dutch prime minister and current NATO General Mark Rutte. The mission is clear: to prevent the frontal clash of last February, when the face to face between Trump and Zelensky is degenerated in a blow and response that frozen the relationship between Washington and Kyiv up to the historic photo inside the Basilica of San Pietro, on the occasion of the funeral of Pope Francis, last April.

Today Europe tries to present itself as a compact front that has the central goal of bringing Trump closer to Ukrainian and European positions. But the line of the American president appears Chiara and the change of scenario is even more evident after the meeting a few days ago In Alaska with Vladimir Putin. Between red carpet, military honors and handshakes, The Russian president seems to have achieved what he needed most: the tycoon still lined up with him. In fact, immediately after that summit, Trump resumed publishing statements in favor of Moscow. In particular, on Truth, the social network used by the USA also for official declarations, Donald Trump has excluded that Ukraine can regain crimea and that the country can become part of NATO. And this is the line with which Putin is carrying out his war.

Before the meeting, Trump had instead expressed himself in favor of a ceased the immediate fire in Ukraine, also supported by the First Lady Melania who personally sent a letter via social to Putin asking him to stop hostility and think of children, a position close to that of European leaders. But after Alaska the line has changed and Trump urges the start of the negotiations now, the need for the ceased seems to have gone through the background. In this context, the presence of European leaders seems to want to avoid that the interview does not end up translating into a series of unilateral concessions towards Russia and reiterating that “International borders cannot be changed by force.” French President Macron was clear: “Putin’s requests are unacceptable, they undermine the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Russian President does not want peace, but Ukraine surrender. But if we are now weak towards Russia, we are preparing tomorrow’s conflicts. It is necessary to maintain the high blood pressure on the Kremlin ».