Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Arrives At European Emergency Meeting Amid Pressure From US And Russia

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Brussels, Belgium. Zelenskyy met European leaders as his country attempted to confront a continuing attack from Russia and the increasing political pressure from President Donald Trump's administration in the US.

The Ukrainian president's visit to Brussels comes at a difficult time for his country. The White House announced a temporary suspension of all military aid and intelligence information in a bid to force Kyiv to negotiate a peace agreement with Russia to end a three-year Moscow invasion.

The military aid break comes after a volatile meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump in the Oval Room last week, which turned into an argument and ended with a team of Ukrainian presidents being asked to leave.

Zelenskyy this week released a statement calling the meeting "regrettable," saying he was ready to engage in the US-facilited peace process and signed a controversial mineral distribution agreement with the US.

Zelenskyy was greeted at the European Council building in the Belgian capital on Thursday by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

"We discussed strengthening Ukraine's and all-European defense capabilities," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram about his meeting with von der Leyen and Costa.

"Air defense, weapons and ammunition for Ukraine, timely supply, strengthening of Ukraine's defense industry, negotiations on Ukraine's access to the EU, the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia and ward off sanctions avoidance -- all of this is included in our topics today," he wrote.

"Thank you for your leadership in discussing improving Europe's defense capabilities and strengthening Ukraine, for all your support on the path to fair and sustainable peace. It is very important that Ukraine is not alone. We feel it and know it," he continued.

Meanwhile Von der Leyen said Europe was facing a difficult situation.

"We must be able to defend ourselves and put Ukraine in a strong position," he said.

Zelenskyy will speak at a special meeting of the European Council and is expected to hold a meeting with European leaders on defense issues.