National leaders gather in Kyiv to highlight continued support

Leaders from Europe and Canada demonstrated solidarity with Ukraine on Monday by joining Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, to mark three years since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau led a delegation of senior Western officials at a commemoration in the capital, where Zelensky praised his nation's resilience.

The United States' absence from the gathering emphasized growing concerns about Washington's wavering support for Ukraine, reported the Associated Press.

In a post on X, von der Leyen said: "We are in Kyiv today, because Ukraine is Europe. In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It's Europe's destiny."

Zelensky faces a shifting international landscape shaped by US President Donald Trump's policy changes. Trump's approach has raised concerns across Ukraine and Europe over him appearing too accommodating toward Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking on the weekend at the Ukraine Year 2025 forum in Kyiv, Zelensky outlined his vision for future peace negotiations.

Zelensky again emphasized that any discussions about his country's future must include its own representatives, and he repeated his wish for the involvement of the United Kingdom and France in peace negotiations.

The Ukrainian leader highlighted the significance of the scheduled US visits by France's President Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer this week, highlighting their crucial role as European representatives at future peace talks, reported the Ukraine news website Ukrinform.

Zelensky also stressed Germany's essential role in negotiations, citing its substantial financial support that approaches half of US aid levels. He emphasized that Northern European nations should also have a voice in peace discussions.

The president stated his expectation for Turkiye's involvement in the security guarantees for Ukraine, revealing he had discussed this with various international partners.

Trump hosted Macron in Washington on Monday and will meet Starmer on Thursday, amid growing concern over transatlantic partnerships.

According to the Associated Press, the meetings follow several moves by Trump that have strained US-European relations. These include his public criticism of Zelensky over peace negotiations and a minerals deal, talks with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia that excluded European and Ukrainian representatives, and a proposed resolution at the United Nations that diverges from European demands for an immediate Russian withdrawal from Ukraine.

Trump also recently accused Zelensky, whose five-year term was set to end last year but was extended due to martial law, of deliberately avoiding elections.

"I am focusing on security today and not in 20 years' time. I don't plan to be in power for 10 years," Zelensky told the forum, stating his readiness to step down if it means peace for Ukraine. The Kyiv Independent news website reported that analysts expect elections to follow once a ceasefire is agreed.