President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen convened in Brussels to strategize ahead of a significant meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. The talks focused on bolstering Ukraine-EU relations and preparing for trilateral discussions with Russia. During the meeting, Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of European unity, drawing parallels to the solidarity seen in 2022 when the conflict with Russia intensified. He emphasized the necessity of a ceasefire and detailed plans to discuss peace negotiations in Washington. Von der Leyen assured that the EU would stand by Ukraine until a just peace is achieved. Key topics included security guarantees, with expectations for cooperation with the United States and strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Both leaders also talked about the potential for Ukraine’s EU membership and the need for an undivided European stance on security matters. The meeting also covered sanctions against Russia, with von der Leyen indicating that a 19th round of sanctions could be implemented by September. They also discussed support for Ukraine’s school meal program, with Zelenskyy seeking further assistance to enhance it. Post navigation Zelenskyy and Biden Set for Key Talks