Inside White House: Bloomberg reveals what Zelenskyy and Europe aim for
US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Photo: Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders will need to clarify the security guarantees the US is willing to provide in exchange for a meeting between the Ukrainian leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Bloomberg.
Bloomberg noted that among the group of politicians accompanying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are individuals with whom Donald Trump has strong personal ties, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
The European leaders’ delegation will aim to obtain a clear answer from Trump on what specific security guarantees the US is willing to provide to facilitate a meeting between Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin.
According to a source cited by the outlet, besides avoiding a new confrontation like the spat on February 28 and maintaining Trump’s interest in mediation, Zelenskyy’s objectives in the talks are to learn more about Putin’s demands, determine the timing of a trilateral meeting, and push the US toward stricter sanctions against Russia.
“Whether he can achieve any of these goals will depend on how much, in the view of European officials, Putin has gotten into Trump’s head,” Bloomberg stated.
White House meeting on August 18
On Sunday, August 17, Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Brussels, where he attended the Coalition of the Willing summit, and afterward traveled to the US with European leaders.
On Monday, August 18, a meeting is scheduled at the White House between Zelenskyy, the European delegation, and US President Donald Trump.
Ahead of the meeting, Trump announced Washington’s readiness to provide Ukraine with security guarantees to help end the war with Russia.
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff stated that the Oval Office discussion on August 18 will include potential Ukrainian territorial concessions to Russia.
