European Leaders To Join Zelenskyy At White House
European leaders go to the White House this week to meet the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the US officials, reporting a continuous American participation in peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said on Sunday “Face The Nation” that the visit of the leaders was part of a coordinated effort, and not a response to pressure on Zelenskyy.
“They don’t come here tomorrow to prevent Zelenskyy from being intimidated. It is a stupid media story,” said Rubio. “We have been working with these people for weeks. We invited them to come. The president invited them to come. ” (Related: Trump expels Zelenskyy from the White House after the explosion of the Oval Office)
Full transcription of @MargbrennanThe interview with Secretary of State Marco Rubio this morning is live 👇 https://t.co/l6jorjzzbr
– Faced with the nation (@Facethenat) August 17, 2025
Rubio said that any potential peace agreement would require concessions on both sides.
“If there are no concessions, if one side gets everything they want, this is called surrender. This is not what we are about to do,” said Rubio.
Rubio also addressed key issues in negotiations, including Ukraine security guarantees, territorial disputes and the ongoing crisis of kidnapped children. Rubio said that Russia strikes and military accumulation are continuing, making diplomacy both urgent and difficult.
White House meetings follow the direct talks between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. Rubio described the discussions as showing “enough movement to justify a follow -up meeting with Zelenskyy and the Europeans”, although he declared that the result remains uncertain.
