12/11/2025December 11, 2025Trump says discussed Ukraine in ‘pretty strong words’ with European leaders
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday night at the White House that “we discussed Ukraine in pretty strong words” when asked about an earlier phone call with the leaders of the UK, France and Germany.
“They would like us to go to a meeting over the weekend in Europe, and we’ll make a determination, depending on what they come back with,” Trump said, without specifying whom he was referring to.
Asked whether the gathering was expected to include the Ukrainian president, Trump answered: “With Zelensky and us.”
The UK, France, and Germany, along with Ukraine and other partners, have been working frantically over the last few weeks to have a revised proposal that balances out a US proposal for peace in Ukraine.
The so-called E3 leaders have been aiming to secure security guarantees for Ukraine once there’s a peace accord.
What to know about tensions between Washington and Europe
The developments take place as ties between the US and Europe appear to have strained over a new US National Security Strategy.
Trump called European leaders “weak” this week in an interview with Politico.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called the US paper “unacceptable.”
https://p.dw.com/p/556zs
12/11/2025December 11, 2025’Coalition of the Willing’ to discuss Ukraine postwar security in virtual call
The “Coalition of the Willing” group of nations is set to discuss “future security and prevent a recurrence of Russian aggression,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted to X.
“This week may bring news for all of us – and for bringing the bloodshed to an end,” Zelenskyy added to his post. He will join the meeting, held virtually, as well.
The “Coalition of the Willing” is a broad term for about 30 nations supporting Ukraine. The group is led by the UK and France.
Zelenskyy has been on a mission to balance out a US peace plan that is widely seen as favoring Russian demands to end the war.
Zelenskyy joined the British, French and German leader for an in-person meeting earlier this week in London to find an agreement on guaranteeing Ukraine’s postwar security.
https://p.dw.com/p/556zj
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to join an urgent virtual call with the self-titled “Coalition of the Willing” group of nations on Thursday.
The call comes after US President Donald Trump said he and European leaders discussed proposals to end the war in Ukraine in “pretty strong terms” Wednesday.
Ukraine and European allies have pushed back on a US proposal to end the war in Ukraine, that was widely seen as having favored Moscow’s demands.
Zelenskyy then held a flurry of meetings with European leaders and Ukrainian allies in a bid to rework the proposal.
Zelenskyy earlier said he expected to send the reworked proposal to US negotiators by Wednesday, but it’s not clear whether that had happened.
Keep reading as we track developments throughout the day.
https://p.dw.com/p/556yU