The European leaders were left out of Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin last Friday, and they want to safeguard Ukraine and the continent from any widening aggression from Moscow. Many arrived at the White House with the explicit goal of protecting Ukraine’s interests — a rare show of diplomatic force.

Russian attacks on major Ukrainian cities killed at least 10 people on Monday, hours before President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was expected to press his case in Washington against a quick deal to end Moscow's war.