In Washington this week, Europe is constructing a diplomatic fortress around Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A formidable group of the continent’s leaders has arrived to build a wall of support, designed to protect him from the political siege expected from Donald Trump and his pro-Russia peace plan.
This “bodyguard” mission is a feat of diplomatic engineering. The foundation of the fortress is the unwavering support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, a principle championed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The main walls are formed by the economic and political might of France and Germany, led by Macron and Merz.
The ramparts are manned by the leaders of Europe’s key institutions, NATO’s Mark Rutte and the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen, who provide military and economic oversight. Inside this fortress, Zelenskyy can negotiate not as a besieged leader, but as one protected by a powerful alliance.
This structure is designed to be impenetrable to Trump’s pressure tactics. By presenting a solid, multi-layered, and unified front, the European allies aim to ensure that the only path forward is one that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and secures its long-term future.
