European leaders are sitting around a large table. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is with them. US President Donald Trump is sitting right in the middle. Such is the scene seen at the White House, local time Monday.

Trump met with Zelensky today to try to end the Russia-Ukraine war. He also met with European leaders. During this time, European leaders spoke directly with Trump on various issues, including ending the war and ensuring the security of Ukraine and Europe.

What European leaders said:
Mark Rutte

Mark Rutte, Secretary General of the Western military alliance NATO, said that the way people are being killed in the Russia-Ukraine war must stop, "We must also stop the destruction of Ukraine's infrastructure. This is a terrible war." He thanked Trump, saying that Trump has "broken the deadlock."

Ursula von der Leyen
At the meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, "We are here to work with you to build a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, to stop the massacre." She added that it must be ensured that every child returns to their family.

Friedrich Merz
"I can't imagine that the next meeting will be without a ceasefire. So, let's work on it and try to put pressure on Russia," said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Georgia Meloni
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a meeting with Trump, "We will talk about many important issues. The first of these is security guarantees. How to ensure that this (war) does not happen again. This is the prerequisite for any kind of peace."

Emmanuel Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron said, "We have worked tirelessly for the past few years to establish peace. What we want is a strong and lasting peace. That is why the idea of a tripartite meeting is very important. Because it is the only way to find a solution."

Keir Starmer
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said, "We are talking about security. It is not just about Ukraine, it is about the security of the whole of Europe and the UK. That is why it is such an important issue."

Alexander Staub
"The fact that we are sitting at this table today is very symbolic in the sense that Team Europe and Team America are helping Ukraine," said Finnish President Alexander Stubbs.

He said Finland has a long border with Russia and the country has experience with Russia during World War II.

"We found a solution in 1944. I am confident that by 2025 we will have found a solution to stop Russian aggression and be able to achieve a lasting and just peace," said Alexander Staub.