It is quite possible that Monday's meeting in the White House could prove even more crucial to the future of Ukraine - and for all of Europe's security - than last Friday's US-Russia summit in Alaska. On the surface, that Putin-Trump reunion seemed to live down to every expectation.

A few of the leaders were said to have interrupted summer holidays to fly to the United States on less than 24 hours’ notice to meet with the Ukrainian leader.

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders including Sir Keir Starmer will meet Donald Trump in Washington on Monday to map out a peace deal amid fears the US president could try to pressure Kyiv into accepting a settlement favourable to Russia.