Trump to Meet with Foreign Leaders on Ukraine Peace Efforts
Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump’s packed schedule this week includes meetings with foreign leaders to discuss a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. National security advisor Mike Waltz announced on Fox News’ America Reports that the President will meet with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The Diplomatic Front
The announcement follows Macron’s call for an emergency meeting of world leaders after the Trump administration excluded Europe from the negotiation efforts. However, Waltz emphasized the significant progress made under President Trump’s leadership. "Just a few months ago, everyone was talking about this war as though it would never end," he stated. "In just a very short amount of time, President Trump has us, everyone – the Ukrainians, the Russians, the Europeans – talking about it now and debating."
Waltz acknowledged that only President Trump could drive such a shift. Last week, Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff met in Riyadh with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov to discuss ways to end the conflict. Ukraine was conspicuously absent from these negotiations.
Ukraine’s Absence and Zelenskyy’s Stance
Ukraine’s lack of involvement has drawn criticism from its President, Vlodomyr Zelenskyy, who has repeatedly insisted that his nation will not accept a peace deal unless they are directly involved in the negotiations. "Nobody decides anything behind our back," he stated on Tuesday in Turkey.
Trump, in turn, has amplified his rhetoric against Zelenskyy, arguing that he is a poor negotiator and that he is "sick of it." "I’ve been watching this man for years now as his cities get demolished, as his people get killed, as his soldiers get decimated," Trump told Fox News last week. "I’ve been watching him negotiate with no cards. He has no cards, and you get sick of it."
European Concerns
Trump’s recent remarks have apparently alarmed European leaders who have backed Ukraine throughout the war. Macron has indicated that he will take a tough tone with Trump during their meeting. "Trump, I know him. I respect him and I believe he respects me," Macron stated. "I will tell him: deep down you cannot be weak in the face of President (Vladimir Putin). Its not you, its not what youre made of, and its not in your interests."
Starmer has also emphasized the need for Ukraine’s involvement in any peace talks. "Nobody wants the bloodshed to continue. Nobody, least of all the Ukrainians," he said. "But after everything that they have suffered, after everything that they have fought for, there could be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine, and the people of Ukraine must have a long-term secure future."
White House Optimism
Despite the challenges, the White House remains optimistic about reaching a peace deal as soon as this week. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that "the president, his team are very much focused on continuing negotiations with both sides of this war to end the conflict, and the president is very confident we can get it done this week."
Conclusion
President Trump’s meetings with foreign leaders this week will be a crucial test of his administration’s diplomatic skills. The stakes are high, as the war in Ukraine continues to take a heavy toll on human life and the global economy. The involvement of key European players, such as Macron and Starmer, adds further complexity to the negotiations. Whether a peace deal can be reached remains to be seen, but the Trump administration’s efforts deserve attention and support.
