Zelensky in Brussels: Meeting with von der Leyen and Preparations for Crucial Talks in Washington
On Sunday, August 17th, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky undertook a significant diplomatic trip to Brussels, where he engaged in an important meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
This encounter marked a critical milestone in Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts ahead of upcoming international negotiations.
During the official ceremony at the European Commission building, von der Leyen warmly welcomed Zelensky, after which they exchanged handshakes, took several official photographs, and commenced bilateral talks.
It is likely that they discussed further support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict, as well as questions related to European integration and future joint actions.
Following the negotiations, the leaders are scheduled to address the media, and at 4:00 PM Kyiv time, they will join a closed video conference with leaders of the ‘Decisive Coalition’ to coordinate efforts before future challenging developments.
Prior to this, it was announced that Ursula von der Leyen would join a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on August 18.
Several European leaders will also participate, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.
The Washington negotiations, which will include NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, aim to address the end of the war in Ukraine and explore new diplomatic approaches.
These talks serve as a logical culmination of a series of meetings following the US-Russia summit held on August 15, intending to contribute significantly to finding long-term solutions to the ongoing conflict.