What each side wants from Ukraine talks at White House

August 18, 2025

World leaders are gathering at the White House for critical talks on ending Ukraine's war with Russia, expanding what was initially planned as a meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky. Following Trump's recent meeting with Putin in Alaska, the US position appears to have shifted toward pressuring Ukraine to concede territory and abandon NATO membership hopes in exchange for vague security guarantees. European leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the EU, and NATO have rushed to Washington due to concerns about Trump's changing stance and to advocate for stronger security commitments for Ukraine.

Who is affected

Ukraine and its citizens whose territory and sovereignty are at stake
European nations concerned about continental security
Ukrainian soldiers who have fought and died to protect contested regions
Russia, which stands to gain territory and influence
NATO and EU as collective security organizations
Civilians in conflict zones experiencing continued attacks and deaths

What action is being taken

World leaders are gathering at the White House for talks on ending the Ukraine-Russia war
European leaders are attempting to push Trump to clarify US security guarantees for Ukraine
Trump is pressuring Zelensky to give up land and NATO membership aspirations
The US is proposing unspecified security guarantees aimed at deterring future Russian aggression
European leaders are making a collective, last-minute visit to advocate for their security concerns

Why it matters

The outcome could redraw sovereign borders in Europe by force, setting a dangerous precedent
Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have died defending territories that might be ceded
Any ceded territory could serve as a launchpad for future Russian aggression
European security architecture depends on credible US commitments
Trump's approach has shifted from seeking a ceasefire to pushing for a full peace deal
Without strong security guarantees, Ukraine would be vulnerable to future Russian attacks
The unprecedented gathering of leaders demonstrates the extremely high stakes of these negotiations

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC