Zelensky makes a desperate appeal for transatlantic "unity," increasingly besieged by Trump

LondonThe umpteenth key meeting for the future of Ukraine, which took place in Downing Street this Monday at midday, has demonstrated, once again, that Kyiv and the Europe that supports it are increasingly isolated from Moscow, among other reasons because The former transatlantic ally piloted by Donald Trump has changed sides.The show of unity around Volodymyr Zelensky by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron has projected a clear symbolic weight. But it remains to be seen whether, beyond words and gestures, the Paris-London-Berlin axis and the so-called coalition of volunteers They have the capabilities to fill the holes left by Washington.

That is why Zelensky, at the end of the meeting, shortly after 4:00 p.m., attempted to renew the call for joint action on both sides of the Atlantic. In a message to X, the Ukrainian president admitted that "what is crucial today is unity between Europe and Ukraine, as well as unity between Europe, Ukraine, and the United States." The Ukrainian leader, increasingly pressured by Washington to accept the land-for-peace demanded by Trump and Vladimir PutinHe emphasized "the importance of security guarantees and the future reconstruction" of the country. Kyiv cannot cede an inch of ground in exchange for peace without ensuring that Moscow will not return to war and that, if it does, the West, including Washington, will prevent it.

The Ukrainian president landed in London at midday to complete an intense day of diplomacy that took him to Brussels in the evening to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He arrived warning that "there is no agreement on territorial concessions" with Donald Trump, and that any proposal that involves exchanging peace for territory remains unacceptable to Kyiv, according to his statements in an interview with Bloomberg.

Russia demands the Donbas, which it has not yet conquered militarily. In fact, if Zelensky were to consider any territorial concessions, he would need much stronger guarantees than the current ones, all of which are hypothetical. In other words, Kyiv needs weapons and intelligence, and everything necessary to respond to further Russian aggression. The fundamental question at the end of the meeting remains the same: Is Europe prepared to commit to the end if the United States is not?

Starmer made the UK's position clear: "We stand with Ukraine," and stressed that any progress toward a peace agreement must preserve Kyiv's interests: "If there has to be a ceasefire, it must be a fair and lasting ceasefire; that's why it's so important that it corresponds to Ukraine." He insisted that London would not back down: "We are here to support you in the conflict and in the negotiations."

And Macron, turning Trump's words on their head when He humiliated Zelensky at the White House in late FebruaryHe asserted that Europe still has "many cards to play" in the game against Russia. Trump, however, told him the exact opposite. The French president has emphasized both Ukrainian resilience and the growing impact of Western sanctions on the Russian economy. And the final statement from Downing Street alluded to this, saying: "Leaders agreed that this is a critical moment and that we must continue to increase support for Ukraine and economic pressure on Putin." A very important aspect of this chapter, on which there is still no agreement, only "positive progress," is the approval of the seizure of the 210 billion euros of Russian funds frozen in the West, most of them in Belgium.

In any case, the truth is that there is a growing belief in European foreign ministries that Trump's United States cannot be trusted. And the Republican president, as usual, has raised his voice against the weakest link, in this case Zelensky. Trump—who is trying to project the image of an impatient negotiator who wants to end the conflict as soon as possible—has declared himself "disappointed" in recent hours because, supposedly, Zelensky "has not yet read" the latest version of his peace plan. According to the US president, "Zelensky's people love him," but it is the Ukrainian president who "is not ready" to accept it. As usual, Trump's statements have not been supported by any evidence. Zelensky has avoided a direct confrontation.

Blaming the victim

These statements open the door to portraying Ukraine as the main obstacle to an agreement. And they have come in parallel with other, even more delicate developments: the president's son-in-law and US negotiator, Jared Kushner, warned this weekend that the Republican administration could withdraw from the process if Kyiv rejects Washington's proposals, a warning that has set off alarm bells in Europe. Trump insists that "Russia has come through" with its plan, something yet to be proven, but Zelensky does not.

For its part, the Kremlin is watching closely, but It maintains its usual calculated ambiguityDmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, said on Monday that Moscow wants to "understand the results" of the recent meetings between the US and Ukraine and praised the new US security strategy, especially because it speaks of the need for "dialogue" and building "constructive relations." This message aligns with the Kremlin's line: to project itself as the reasonable interlocutor with a Ukraine portrayed as intransigent, a task to which the White House contributes.

The debate over Europe's role has intensified following the publication last Friday, of the new US national security strategyThis has been interpreted across the continent as confirmation of an increasingly profound rift. Analysts like Nathalie Tocci, from the Institute of International Affairs in Italy, already consider the European strategy of trying to "keep Trump close" a failure and have stated that "Europe is alone" in this conflict. For his part, Carl Bildt, former Swedish president and co-president of the European Council on Foreign Relations, agrees that European governments "don't want to break with the US," but they must understand that "it is Washington that is severing ties" and that Europe must learn to "stand on its own two feet."