Zelensky urged to reconcile with Trump as Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni warns of a ‘divided West’ after White House clash.

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been a staunch backer of Ukraine.

 Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has urged Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky to return to negotiations to "prevent the risk of a Western divide over Ukraine." This call comes after a heated confrontation between the Ukrainian president and both Trump and Vice President JD Vance led to Zelensky's abrupt departure from the White House. 

Following the clash, Zelensky convened with key European allies at an emergency summit in London on Sunday, where he received a warm welcome. Discussions focused on forging a path to peace amid Russia's ongoing invasion and repairing strained relations with the U.S. after Friday's incident.

Several European leaders have publicly encouraged Trump and Zelensky to reconcile. Meloni, who has cultivated a close relationship with Trump and was the only European leader to attend his inauguration, emphasized the importance of Western unity. She spoke with Trump ahead of the London summit and called for an emergency meeting with the U.S. to ease tensions. "It’s very, very important that we avoid the risk that the West divides over Ukraine," Meloni stated, according to a translation.

Zelensky echoed this sentiment after meeting with Meloni, stressing the need for unity and robust security guarantees for Ukraine. "It is important to maintain unity around Ukraine and strengthen our country’s position in cooperation with our allies – the countries of Europe and the United States," he said. "Ukraine needs peace backed by strong security guarantees."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who spoke with Trump after the spat, acknowledged the tension and expressed his commitment to bridging the divide. "Clearly, there’s a lot of tension. The cameras were on — nobody wants to see that. My driving purpose has been to bridge this," Starmer told the BBC. He revealed that the U.K., along with France and possibly other nations, would collaborate with Ukraine on a plan to halt the fighting, which would then be discussed with the U.S.

Later on Sunday, Zelensky was scheduled to meet with King Charles. European leaders have largely rallied around Zelensky, though many have cautiously avoided direct criticism of Trump following the explosive Oval Office meeting. Since the incident, Zelensky has expressed gratitude to European countries and other partners for their support, after being criticized by Vance for not showing enough appreciation toward the U.S.

Amid deteriorating relations with the U.S., which has been Ukraine's largest provider of military aid, Zelensky has sought guidance from Europe. National security adviser Mike Waltz noted on CNN’s "State of the Union" that European leaders are directly engaging Zelensky on the need for negotiations. "They’re talking to him directly about getting to the negotiation table," Waltz said. "[About] what does he need to see to actually negotiate with the Russians."

Zelensky's visit to the White House on Friday was initially intended to sign a mineral rights agreement as part of Trump's efforts to jumpstart negotiations to end the war. However, the meeting quickly devolved into a heated exchange when Zelensky challenged assertions made by Trump and Vance. 

Approximately 40 minutes into the discussion, Zelensky countered Vance's insistence on diplomacy with Russia by pointing out Russian President Vladimir Putin's history of breaking agreements and lying. This sparked a dramatic shouting match between the leaders.

Zelensky has maintained that any ceasefire or peace agreement must include security guarantees for Ukraine. While he has been vague about the specifics of these guarantees, the Trump administration has suggested that Europe should take the lead in providing them. "They were talking about European boots on the ground, security guarantees for Ukraine, a positive movement towards ending this war, and Ukraine and the United States being bound together for a generation economically," Waltz explained.

Some European leaders have signaled a willingness to take on a greater role. "Today it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge," said European Union foreign minister Kaja Kallas following Friday's Oval Office clash.

Estimates of U.S. spending on Ukraine vary, with the Kiel Institute citing approximately $119.7 billion and the Defense Department reporting around $182.8 billion. Europe, as a whole, has contributed $138.7 billion, according to the Kiel Institute. For decades, European nations have trailed the U.S. in military investments, a point of contention for Trump.