Trump and Zelenskyy's meeting with European leaders marks a historic moment

European leaders joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on Monday in a rare display of unity to end the war with Russia.

WASHINGTON — Seven European leaders joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on Monday in a rare display of trans-Atlantic unity. The gathering marked the first time in decades that such a broad delegation of allies had assembled at the White House under such pressing circumstances.

Shortly after noon, one by one, the heads of state and NATO partners passed the White House gates, where they were met by President Donald Trump’s chief of protocol, and in Zelenskyy’s case, by Trump himself.

Some met with Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and other officials that morning. Others made their way to the White House directly from Dulles and other airports. They were there to bolster Zelenskyy after a disastrous White House visit in February, when he clashed with Trump and Vice President JD Vance — and after Trump held a nearly three-hour one-on-one with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.

The show of support for Zelenskyy involved French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who pivoted from their own national agendas to present a united front as Trump seeks an urgent end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Trump, Zelenskyy and European leaders meeting at the White House.Win McNamee / Getty ImagesThe display took place within days of Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska and ahead of a possible Trump-brokered meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy as Trump casts himself as a potential peace broker.