Trump is pushing to get Zelensky and Putin at the negotiating table to hammer out a conclusion to the bloody war that started when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
In a “last-minute decision”, a host of European leaders joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a meeting at the White House with President Donald Trump, who is aiming to negotiate an end to the war following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Despite the gravity and importance of the meeting, media coverage in the leadup to the meeting focused on whether Zelensky will wear a suit to the summit. Zelensky previously wore army-green colored clothes to the White House meeting earlier this year. That meeting ended acrimoniously as Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Zelensky argued and spoke over each other in front of the press. For this meeting, Zelensky opted for a “black military-style suit.”
Joining Zelensky in his trek to Washington were French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Monday’s talks in Washington placed U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine at the center of discussions between President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and European leaders. Zelensky and his counterparts sought clarity on how far Washington would go to ensure Russia could not regroup and threaten Ukraine again after a potential peace deal.
In a notable shift, Trump declined to rule out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine as part of a post-war peacekeeping arrangement. While emphasizing that European nations would take the lead, he acknowledged there would be “a lot of help” from the United States. Though he made no formal commitments, Trump’s openness to this option contrasted with his earlier campaign pledges to avoid foreign entanglements and signals a potential change in strategy.
Trump also pushed forward with his goal of arranging face-to-face negotiations involving himself, Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He paused his meeting with Zelensky and European leaders to speak privately with Putin, later announcing he had begun arranging a bilateral meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders, followed by a trilateral session including himself. The Russian government released a statement after the phone call, saying the conversation was “frank and very constructive”, adding that Trump and Putin agreed to “direct talks” through subordinates between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump said he believed such talks were inevitable, though he gave no timeline, and Putin’s willingness remains uncertain. French President Emmanuel Macron suggested expanding talks to include another European leader, citing the broader security implications for Europe, but Trump appeared resistant.
Another major development was Trump’s reversal on pursuing an immediate ceasefire. Only days earlier, he had suggested a ceasefire was essential, but on Monday he argued it was unrealistic, preferring to focus on final peace negotiations instead of new sanctions or pressure on Russia. European leaders, surprised by the shift, pressed Trump to reconsider, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisting a ceasefire was vital before any summit. Trump, however, maintained that while a ceasefire would be ideal, it was unlikely.
Despite disagreements, the meeting between Trump and Zelensky unfolded in a far calmer atmosphere than their previous clash in February. Zelensky, aiming to smooth relations, expressed repeated gratitude and delivered a personal letter from his wife to Melania Trump. Their lighter exchange, including jokes about his attire, underscored a deliberate effort by Ukraine to avoid friction. Trump’s aides, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, remained silent throughout the session.
