The president of the European Commission has confirmed she will join the meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington.
Ursula von der Leyen said she will join the talk “at the request of President Zelenskyy”, adding that she “and other European leaders” will be meeting at the White House on Monday.
Also set to join in are German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb,
Mr Stubb’s friendship with Mr Trump is said to have blossomed since the pair bonded over their love of golf during a tournament at Mar-a-Lago in March.
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Donald Trump and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb during a golf tournament at Mar-a-Lago. Pic: Finnish Presidential Office/Reuters
Mr Stubb, whose attendance at the Washington meeting hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, previously said that Mr Trump is “the only person who can broker a peace” deal, saying the US president was “the only one that Putin is afraid of”.
Bringing Ms von der Leyen and Mr Stubb along to the meeting could be an attempt by Mr Zelenskyy to prevent another version of the infamous Oval Office showdown with Mr Trump and the vice-president, JD Vance, in the Oval Office this February.
Zelenskyy and Trump during their fiery exchange in the Oval Office. Pic: Reuters
They were set to discuss a potential ceasefire with Russia and a mineral deal between Ukraine and the US, but their meeting descended into chaos when a fiery shouting match unfolded in front of media representatives.
Mr Trump and his second-in-command, Mr Vance, ambushed the Ukrainian president, mocking him for not wearing a suit and telling him he didn’t “have the cards right now with us”.
The disastrous meeting ended with Mr Zelenskyy prematurely leaving the White House. He later said the bust-up was “not good for both sides”.
Analysis: Zelenskyy knows he risks another ambush
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump argued in the White House. Pic: Reuters
At the US-Russia summit on Friday, Mr Trump (quite literally) rolled out the red carpet for Mr Putin and even let the Russian leader take a ride with him in the presidential limousine dubbed The Beast.
Mr Zelenskyy is set for a less warm welcome, with no red carpet or fly past, no round of applause, according to Sky News’ US correspondent Martha Kelner.
The atmosphere may get friendlier with leaders like Ms von der Leyen and Mr Stubb in Mr Zelenskyy’s corner, and the inclusion of the European leaders as mediators could help prevent a repeat of the Oval Office clash.
Mr Putin and Mr Trump greet each other on the red carpet in Alaska. Pic: Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/Pool/EPA/Shutterstock
Mr Stubb has repeatedly voiced support for Ukraine, and Finland, along with other Nordic countries and the three Baltic states, has been among the country’s staunchest supporters.
The 2022 invasion prompted Finland, which shares a 1,340-km (833-mile) border with Russia, to join NATO two years ago, upending decades of non-alignment.
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Two days before the Alaska summit, Mr Zelenskyy, Mr Trump and European leaders, including Mr Stubb, were on a conference call, after which the Finnish leader wrote on X: “Excellent meeting with @Potus and European leaders, including @ZelenskyyUA. Aligned views and unity.
“We are working together for a ceasefire and a sustainable peace. We are there for Ukraine every step of the way. The next few days and weeks can be decisive.”
Whether any other European leaders will accompany Mr Zelenskyy will likely be confirmed late Sunday following a conference call between members of the “coalition of the willing”.
