U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that European Union and NATO leaders have been invited to a meeting in Washington, D.C. scheduled for August 18, 2025, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with former President Donald Trump. Rubio denied media reports claiming that Trump had told European leaders the United States supports Russian President Vladimir Putin's demand for Ukraine to cede control of the remaining territories it holds in the Donetsk region in exchange for a peace agreement. Contrary to claims that Trump did not want European leaders present or that they were accompanying Zelensky to shield him from Trump's pressure, Rubio stated that the Europeans' attendance was at Trump's invitation.