- European Council President António Costa convened an EU leaders’ video conference for Tuesday at 13:00 CEST to debrief on Washington meetings about Ukraine.
- Costa said the EU, together with the U.S., will keep working toward a “lasting peace” that protects Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests.
- Ursula von der Leyen and leaders including Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, Keir Starmer, and Alexander Stubb were in Washington on Monday for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Big Picture
European Council President António Costa announced the call in a post on X, noting that EU leaders will receive a debrief of Monday’s Washington discussions on Ukraine and align next steps. Costa’s post on X is the primary notice of the meeting; subsequent references herein are unattributed summaries of that announcement.
What’s New
The video conference is set for 13:00 CEST on Tuesday (7:00 a.m. ET). According to Costa, the aim is to translate Monday’s high-level engagements in Washington into a clear EU line on supporting negotiations and security guarantees that preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and Europe’s wider security.
What They’re Saying
Context
On Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, President Donald J. Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a group of European leaders at the White House for high-level talks on Ukraine and broader trans-Atlantic security. The visiting delegation included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
The day’s program featured a bilateral between President Trump and President Zelenskyy, followed by a “family photo” and a larger multilateral session in the East Room. According to participants’ public statements, discussions focused on potential security guarantees for Ukraine, coordination on assistance and reconstruction, and next steps toward renewed diplomacy with Russia.
Tuesday’s European Council video conference—convened by Council President António Costa for 13:00 CEST—is designed to brief EU leaders on the Washington meetings and align the bloc’s position ahead of further negotiations.
What’s Next
EU leaders will convene by video on Tuesday at 13:00 CEST (7:00 a.m. ET). A readout is expected afterward, outlining the EU’s coordinated stance following Monday’s Washington meetings and any guidance for continued diplomacy involving Kyiv, Moscow, and trans-Atlantic partners.
The Bottom Line
The EU is moving quickly to synchronize its approach after Washington talks—signaling support for a peace track that protects Ukraine’s sovereignty while aligning with Europe’s security priorities.
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