Ukraine-Russia war latest: European leader ‘to join Zelensky for Trump meeting’ after Putin asks for Donbas surrender
A European leader is due to accompany Volodymyr Zelensky to meet with Donald Trump in the White House on Monday, with reports suggesting it will be Finnish president Alexander Stubb.
Stubb, who has cultivated a strong relationship with the U.S. president, will be on hand to prevent any flare-ups between the Ukrainian president and Trump, and to represent Europe’s interests.
It comes as Vladimir Putin has demanded Ukraine surrender the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk provinces of the Donbas region as one condition for ending the war.
The Russian leader told Trump that he would be prepared to stop fighting on the rest of the frontline if Ukraine gave in to the demand.
The concessions were discussed at the summit of the two leaders in Alaska on Friday, which ended with no peace deal despite nearly three hours of talks. Sources very close to the meeting told The Independent the dramatic move appears to have been endorsed by Mr Trump as a means to bring an end to the war.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer will speak to western allies on Sunday in a ‘Coalition of the Willing’ meeting.
