US, Ukrainian, and European leaders met at the White House on the 18th. Yonhap News. 

Following the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian and European leaders on the 18th (local time), the US and Europe have begun concrete steps toward ensuring post-war security for Ukraine.

On the 19th, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron convened participants of the "Coalition of Will" for Ukraine's security support to explain the outcomes of their meeting with President Trump in Washington D.C. the previous day. Approximately 30 countries, including major European nations and Turkey, participated in this video conference.

During the video conference, participating countries discussed security guarantees for Ukraine and potential sanctions to further pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a brief statement released after the meeting, the British government explained, "The participating countries decided to hold a planning team meeting with the US side soon to strengthen plans for providing robust security guarantees to Ukraine and to discuss the readiness of security forces to be deployed once hostilities cease."

In this regard, a senior US official told Reuters on the same day that the top US military commander is expected to hold a video conference with European security leaders to discuss the Ukraine issue. However, the official added that the plan remains subject to change.

A NATO official also told Reuters that a meeting concerning Ukraine, attended by NATO military leaders, is expected to take place on the 20th.

Discussions on post-war security guarantees for Ukraine have gained momentum after President Trump, who had previously been hesitant, indicated his willingness to participate in peace negotiations.

The British government further stated in its release that "participants of the Coalition of Will also discussed ways to apply further pressure, including sanctions, until Putin takes serious steps to end his illegal invasion."

The European Union (EU) is preparing its 19th package of sanctions against Russia for early September.

Charles Michel, President of the European Council, discusses the results of the previous day's US meeting with EU leaders. Captured from the X (formerly Twitter) account of Charles Michel, President of the European Council. 

Following the Coalition of Will meeting, a video conference hosted by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, was held. This was also to explain the outcomes of the White House meeting to member states.

Reuters reported that after the meeting, Michel told reporters, "There is much work to be done, and nothing can be guaranteed, but the possibility of a bilateral meeting between President Zelenskyy and President Putin itself is quite positive."

He also urged that progress is needed in Ukraine's EU accession process, and as it is an issue concerning European security, the EU should participate in the peace negotiation process between the US, Russia, and Ukraine.

Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán participating in the EU meeting chaired by President Michel. Captured from the X (formerly Twitter) account of Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary. 

However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who holds pro-Russian sentiments within the EU, posted on X after the meeting, "It has been confirmed that the risk of World War III can only be reduced through the meeting between Trump and Putin, and that the strategy of isolating (Russia) has failed."

He further argued, "It has been confirmed that Ukraine's accession to the EU does not provide security guarantees. Therefore, linking accession with security guarantees is unnecessary and dangerous."

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, a pro-Russian leader, also stated, according to Reuters, "The first fundamental prerequisite for ending the conflict is to understand that Ukraine cannot become a NATO member."

Prime Minister Fico continued, "It is equally important that we cannot move forward without discussions about territorial changes in Ukraine," effectively calling for territorial concessions from Ukraine.

Yonhap News