President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels on 17 August to confer with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and leaders of the “Coalition of the Willing” ahead of fresh diplomacy on the war in Ukraine. Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine’s constitution makes it impossible to surrender territory, while von der Leyen said international borders “cannot be changed by force” and pledged EU support for Kyiv “as long as it takes,” adding that work is under way on a nineteenth package of sanctions against Russia. After the Brussels session, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed they will accompany Zelensky to Washington on Monday, 18 August, for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. Macron called the trip essential to present a united European front and secure a “robust, durable peace” that preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The White House meeting follows Trump’s encounter with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. According to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Moscow discussed possible concessions covering five Ukrainian regions and indicated openness to “Article 5-like” security guarantees for Kyiv. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that Russia faces additional sanctions if negotiations fail to produce a cease-fire. Zelensky said any territorial questions must be addressed only by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia in a U.S.-mediated trilateral format, noting there is “no sign” the Kremlin is ready for such a summit. European partners pledged to keep economic pressure on Moscow, support Ukraine’s EU accession and coordinate security assurances until a “just and lasting peace” is achieved.