Future-defining summit on Ukraine begins with preparotry meetings

All eyes worldwide are on the White House, where today, August 18, President Donald Trump hosts his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, and several EU leaders to discuss the future of the war-torn country.

Zelensky has already held talks with US special envoy Keith Kellogg in Washington DC, ahead of what he says will be a “very serious” meeting with Trump and European leaders, who are their to support Zelensky, in a likely attempt to avoid him being humiliated again by the US president and his vice president, J.D. Vance, who apart from criticising harshly for not wearing a suit, accused him of risking World War III.

“Russia can only be forced into peace through strength, and President Trump has that strength,” Zelensky said in a post on social media, thanking Kellogg for the meeting. “When peace is discussed for one country in Europe, it means peace for all of Europe,” the Ukrainian leader wrote. “We are ready to continue working with maximum effort to end the war and to ensure reliable security.” He denounced Russia, saying, “attacks on our cities continued. Among those killed were two children, and dozens of people were wounded. People were simply sleeping when the Russian army launched strikes on the cities.”

Zelensky meets with Finnish president

After meeting with Mr. Kellogg, Zelensky began another “preparatory meeting” with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb.

According to the BBC, Keir Starmer has arrived in Washington, DC. He landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, near the country’s capital.

The world is anxious to learn if Zelensky is prepared to bow to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s conditions to end the war, including that he cede Donbas, give up attempts to recover Crimea and forget his plans to have Ukraine join NATO.

Ukrainian foreign minister rejects bowing to Putin

However, just before the start of the crucial meeting with Trump, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Kyiv’s position that it will not give up territory as part of any deals with Russia remains unchanged.

“As regards expectations from this meeting, it’s further progress, a clearer understanding of the parameters of future security guarantees, which is extremely important, and further work to bring nearer a trilateral meeting in the Zelensky-Putin-Trump format with the possible involvement of other allied leaders,” said Mr Sybiha.