Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday (August 17, 2025) hailed the decision by Washington to offer security guarantees to Ukraine, speaking a day ahead of his meeting in Washington with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Security guarantees, as a result of our joint work, must really be very practical, delivering protection on land, in the air, and at sea, and must be developed with Europe’s participation,” he said on social media.
His message came after a video conference earlier on Sunday of a group of Ukraine’s allies in Europe, including the leaders of Britain, France and Germany. European leaders said they would join Mr. Zelenskyy in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, as they try to find a way to end Russia’s offensive.
Mr. Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday but the talks failed to yield any breakthrough on a ceasefire — though White House envoy Steve Witkoff said both leaders had agreed to provide “robust security guarantees” to Ukraine.
‘Ukraine and Europe must present a united front’
The goal for Monday’s talks in Washington between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy is to present a united front between Ukraine and its European allies, French President Emmanuel Macron said.
“If we show weakness today in front of Russia, we are laying the ground for future conflicts,” he said.
He said Kyiv’s allies in Sunday’s “coalition of the willing” meeting wanted strong and lasting peace in Ukraine and for Ukraine’s territorial integrity to be respected.