Polish President Andrzej Duda is scheduled to meet with Donald Trump on Saturday, while French President Emmanuel Macron will be in Washington, DC on Monday. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also set to visit the US on Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT
In light of the Trump administration’s seeming hesitance to engage Ukraine and Europe in peace negotiations with Russia, European leaders have reiterated their support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and their dedication to shared security objectives.
Following discussions on security priorities amid the ongoing three-year conflict in Ukraine, several European officials are planning trips to the United States to advocate for an end to the war and to emphasize a European role in any potential peace negotiations.
Polish President Andrzej Duda’s meeting with Donald Trump is noteworthy as it marks his first visit since Trump resumed office in January. He has historically maintained a positive rapport with his American counterpart.
Since the onset of Russia’s invasion, Poland has stood firmly alongside Ukraine, serving as a crucial transport hub for humanitarian assistance and military supplies arriving from the West.
High-ranking officials from the Trump administration, including US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have lauded Poland’s commitment to defense spending and security initiatives.
During his inaugural bilateral state visit last week, Hegseth commended Poland as a “model NATO ally” during discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Before heading to the US, Duda indicated in a statement on X that he had a phone conversation with Zelenskyy regarding the peace process and US discussions with Moscow.
“I communicated to him that we firmly believe the only way to end the bloodshed and secure lasting peace in Ukraine is with consistent support from the United States,” Duda conveyed on X.
“For this reason, I encouraged President Zelensky to maintain a course of calm and constructive cooperation with US President Donald Trump,” he added.
The announcement of this series of diplomatic visits follows a gathering of US officials with Russian diplomats in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aimed at discussing an end to the conflict.
No representatives from Ukraine or Europe were present at these talks.
In reaction to this, French President Emmanuel Macron convened European leaders for an emergency summit in Paris on Monday to unify their stance on Ukraine.
Before meeting Trump, Macron expressed his intention to advise the US President against appearing weak in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“What I intend to tell him is that you cannot show weakness in front of President Putin. That’s not who you are, nor is it in your best interest,” Macron stated while responding to queries on his social media platform on Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT
“How can you be credible with China if you display weakness towards Putin? Allowing Russia to seize Ukraine would lead to uncontrollable consequences for Europeans and others,” he added.
