The meeting in Washington was the result of another summit, between Mr Trump and Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, in Alaska last week. That meeting yielded what Mr Putin vaguely called “understandings”,

European leaders, as well as the Nato chief, joining Zelensky for talks with Trump in Washington makes it an extraordinarily high-level meeting. This reveals how high their concern is that the US president will help Vladimir Putin defeat Ukraine by backing his demands - such as no ceasefire before final settlement.

At what was billed as an “historic” presidential summit, hastily put together in Alaska on Friday afternoon, the optics were as clear and overshadowing as the vast Chugach mountains glistening over Anchorage in the summer sun.

European and NATO leaders announced Sunday that they will joining President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington for crucial talks with President Trump.

European leaders are to join the Ukrainian president during a visit that seeks a path to ending the war between Ukraine and Russia.