From Keir Starmer To Macron, Decoding Trump's Bonds With European Leaders Heading To White House

Last Updated:August 18, 2025, 11:42 IST

The appearance with Zelenskyy seems aimed at projecting unity and avoiding a repeat of the tense February meeting, during which Trump publicly lashed out at the Ukrainian leader

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (Reuters File Image)

As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy heads to Washington on Monday, he will be accompanied by European and NATO leaders to present a united front in talks with President Donald Trump on ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

Along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb also said they’ll will take part in Monday’s talks, as will secretary-general of the NATO military alliance, Mark Rutte.

The leaders are throwing their support behind Zelenskyy following his exclusion from Friday’s summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their planned appearance with Zelenskyy at the White House appears aimed at projecting unity—and avoiding a repeat of the tense February meeting, during which Trump publicly lashed out at the Ukrainian leader in a heated Oval Office exchange.

In the Alaska summit, Putin agreed that the US and its European allies could offer Ukraine a security guarantee resembling NATO’s collective defence mandate as part of an eventual deal to end the over three-year war, special US envoy Steve Witkoff said in an interview on Sunday on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’.

The European leaders’ support could help ease concerns in Kyiv and in other European capitals that Ukraine risks being railroaded into a peace deal.

Putin, meanwhile, has implied that he sees Europe as a hindrance to negotiations. He has also resisted meeting Zelenskyy in person, saying that such a meeting can only take place once the groundwork for a peace deal has been laid.

News18 takes a look at the leaders visiting the White House and Trump’s relationship with each one of them:

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer: Trump and Starmer are known to enjoy a good rapport, with the US President once describing him as a “very good person" and acknowledging their positive rapport: “I get along with him well. I like him a lot… I may not agree with his philosophy, but I have a very good relationship with him."

Starmer, for his part, has said he found common ground with Trump despite their differing political views, even citing shared values such as care for family. He credited this personal understanding with helping to negotiate the removal of sweeping tariffs on British industries.

According to The Guardian, Starmer has adeptly positioned himself as a “soft power" conduit—a pragmatic voice among European leaders aiming to moderate Trump’s tilt toward Russia and reinforce unwavering support for Ukraine.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: Meloni visited the White House in April and both she and Trump enjoy a good relationship. Trump has called her a “fantastic woman" who has “really taken Europe by storm". She was also the only European leader to attend his inauguration in January.

CNN reported that Meloni’s role as a kind of “soft power" intermediary has not gone unnoticed. Once dismissed as far-right and Eurosceptic, she now positions herself as a bridge between America and Europe, especially valuable amid uncertainty in France and Germany.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: A month after becoming German chancellor, Merz flew to the White House where he curried favour with the president by presenting Trump with a birth certificate for his grandfather Friedrich, who was born in Bavaria, BBC reported.

Trump and Merz’s dynamic is anchored not in ideology, but in realpolitik. Their relationship blends diplomatic civility, mutual utility, and guarded optimism. Merz walks a fine line—advancing Europe’s independence while keeping Washington engaged. And Trump, ever transactional, acknowledges pragmatic alliances that reinforce America’s interest.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb: Trump and Stubb developed a surprisingly close relationship after a private, unannounced meeting in March 2025 at Mar-a-Lago, where they spent around seven hours together, including playing a round of golf.

During their meeting, Stubb reportedly pushed Trump to support a clear ceasefire deadline for Ukraine, conveying concerns from European allies. Stubb later told media that Trump appeared increasingly impatient with Vladimir Putin over the lack of progress on peace. Since their meeting, Stubb has become an informal channel between Trump and several European governments.

French President Emmanuel Macron: Trump and Macron’s relationship initially garnered attention for its friendly and theatrical tone—long handshakes, back-slaps, public admiration—prompting media to dub their bond a “bromance". Trump has referred to Macron as a “special friend", while Macron has called France a “solid ally" that Trump respects.

In a notable 2025 Washington meeting, Macron tried to manage Trump with balance—combining charm with firm pushback. He corrected Trump on Ukraine aid contributions and called for fair competition in trade. Macron also emphasised that any peace deal in Ukraine must preserve Ukrainian sovereignty and not be a “surrender," rejecting Trump’s implications of territorial compromise.

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte: Rutte once famously commended “daddy" Trump’s handling of the Israel-Iran conflict, while Trump praised Nato under Rutte’s leadership after its members committed to boost defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP.

At the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague, Rutte lavished praise on Trump, calling him a “man of strength… and peace" and crediting him for driving Europe’s increased defence spending. He even quipped, “Europe is going to pay in a BIG way… it will be your win."

Trump made a splash by sharing a private, glowing text from Rutte on his social platform, framing the praise as emblematic of their strong alignment. The message tied Trump’s military actions and the 5 per cent defence spending goal to a “moment that no American president in decades could get done".

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: In May 2025, facing the threat of a 50 per cent tariff on EU goods, von der Leyen successfully negotiated a postponement with Trump, delaying implementation to July 9. Trump described granting the reprieve as “his privilege," while von der Leyen emphasised her commitment to rapidly advancing talks.

In July 2025, during a high-stakes meeting at Turnberry, Scotland, Trump and von der Leyen struck a preliminary deal. Under its terms, the EU would purchase $750 billion in US energy and invest $600 billion in the US, while both sides agreed to a 15 per cent tariff on most EU goods. Trump touted it as “the biggest deal ever made".

Trump has publicly praised her toughness as a negotiator. At one point, he acknowledged her as “very tough" but also “fantastic," reflecting a mix of respect and strategic edge.

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