Trump first met with Zelensky privately, then sat down with European leaders who also gathered at the White House to support the Ukrainian president.
The European delegation was made up of EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO chief Mark Rutte meet at the White House on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. Photo: EPA/AARON SCHWARTZ
The discussions followed Trump's Friday meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin. There, Trump expressed support for a Russian proposal of peace without a prior ceasefire in exchange for Ukraine relinquishing part of the Donetsk region.
Zelensky and European leaders are seeking clarity on security guarantees for Kyiv.
Poland’s absence sparked questions and a blame game in Warsaw.
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski wrote on the social media platform X that "invitations to the White House come from the US president, with whom Polish representatives of the MAGA movement and President Karol Nawrocki personally enjoy privileged relations."
He added that these close ties should be used "for the benefit of Poland and Europe."
Nawrocki, speaking earlier on Monday at a ceremony in the presidential palace, said that Poland has long been represented by the government in the so-called "Coalition of the Willing."
He said Zelensky invited the European leaders attending the White House talks and argued that he was the only European head of state with a bilateral meeting with Trump already scheduled to take place early next month.
"On September 3, I will meet President Trump, and issues of security and peace in Ukraine will be among the very important points," Nawrocki said.
He added that he remains in contact with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and urged the media to remain calm.
"In matters of Poland’s security and international affairs there is no room for political emotions, only the interest of the Polish state," he said.
Marcin Przydacz, a top foreign policy adviser to Duda, also weighed in on X, writing that discussions about Poland’s participation in the Washington meeting included Sikorski, who “did not declare Poland’s readiness to take part.”
Government spokesman Adam Szłapka said that the Washington talks were in the same format as earlier online meetings with Trump, in which "Poland was represented by President Nawrocki."
Sikorski wrote that Zelensky had confirmed the format to other world leaders, "including those of Japan, Canada and New Zealand."
Georgette Mosbacher, a former US ambassador to Poland, on Monday voiced disappointment over Poland’s absence from the Washington talks, suggesting the responsibility lay primarily with Warsaw, according to private broadcaster Polsat News.
Tusk on Tuesday wrote on X that Nawrocki and his team should be "given some time to settle in" after taking office earlier this month.
"Poland's external presence requires unified action and cooperation from all state institutions, and cooperation requires mutual patience and understanding," Tusk said.
Nawrocki's spokesman, Rafał Leśkiewicz, told public broadcaster Polish Radio on Tuesday that the president was "actively working to promote peace in Ukraine," citing his phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, two calls with US President Donald Trump, talks with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and an upcoming meeting with Trump in Washington..
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP