Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returned to the White House on Monday for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, seeking renewed efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
European leaders also traveled to Washington to join the talks, which came just days after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska ended without progress on a ceasefire.
While Trump struck an optimistic tone, his European counterparts were more cautious, and by Monday evening the discussions had produced no concrete security guarantees or clear steps toward a peace agreement.
1. Is a Putin–Zelensky Meeting in the Works?
After the summit, Trump revealed on Truth Social that he had spoken with Putin to start arranging direct talks between the Russian president and Zelensky.
According to Trump, such a bilateral meeting — at a yet-to-be-determined location — would be followed by a trilateral session that he himself would join.
A Kremlin adviser later confirmed that Trump and Putin held a 40-minute phone conversation on Monday.
Meanwhile, before European leaders gathered with Trump in the White House’s East Room, a hot mic caught an exchange between the U.S. president and French President Emmanuel Macron.
“I think he wants to make a deal. I think he wants to make a deal for me. You understand that? As crazy as that sounds,” Trump told Macron, apparently referring to Putin.
Whether the two adversaries can realistically be brought face-to-face for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 remains uncertain.
For months, Zelensky has publicly expressed willingness to meet Putin, though largely to reinforce his argument that Moscow has no real interest in peace. The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected such a proposal.
On Monday night, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov issued a cautious statement, saying it might be “worthwhile” to consider “raising the level of representatives” in ongoing talks between Russia and Ukraine.
- Europeans Push Back as Trump Downplays Ceasefire
Trump appeared to dismiss the necessity of a ceasefire before formal negotiations could begin to end the conflict.
Ukraine has consistently argued that halting hostilities must come first, viewing a ceasefire as essential both for immediate security and as a foundation for any lasting settlement. Analysts note that while a ceasefire would be difficult, it is still more achievable in the short term than a comprehensive peace deal, which could take months of talks while fighting continues.
“I don’t know that it’s necessary,” Trump said of a ceasefire.
European leaders disagreed. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz offered the sharpest response, insisting: “I can’t imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire. So, let’s work on that and put pressure on Russia.”
When given the floor, Zelensky notably refrained from repeating his earlier demands for a ceasefire before negotiations.
- Trump Hints at Security Guarantees
Trump told Zelensky that the United States would help guarantee Ukraine’s security under any eventual peace deal, though he stopped short of clarifying what level of support this might involve.
While he did not commit to deploying U.S. troops, Trump avoided ruling it out when pressed by reporters. He stressed that Europe remained the “first line of defence,” but added, “we’ll be involved” and promised that the U.S. would provide “good protection.”
This marked Trump’s most definitive stance yet on the issue of security guarantees, widely considered a critical component of any agreement with Moscow. He also claimed that during last week’s Alaska summit, Putin had accepted that such guarantees would be included in a peace framework.
At a press conference following Monday’s meetings, Zelensky said the guarantees would likely involve a $90 billion (£67bn) U.S.-Ukraine arms deal. He noted this package would cover advanced American weapons not yet in Kyiv’s arsenal, such as aviation and anti-missile systems, along with unspecified additional equipment.
Zelensky also announced that the U.S. would purchase Ukrainian-made drones, a move intended to bolster Kyiv’s domestic production of unmanned aircraft. He suggested that the details of the security guarantees could be finalized within 10 days.
- Zelensky Launches a Charm Offensive
After a tense Oval Office visit in February, Zelensky adopted a markedly different approach this time, going out of his way to flatter his American hosts. Within minutes of the meeting, he had offered six separate “thank yous.”
During his previous trip, he had been publicly admonished by Vice-President JD Vance for not showing enough gratitude toward U.S. support. This time, he swapped his trademark military fatigues for a dark suit — a change from which Trump had once teased him for being “all dressed up today.”
Zelensky also added a personal touch, handing Trump a letter from Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, intended for Melania Trump. “It’s not to you — [it’s] to your wife,” he joked.
European leaders, too, turned up the praise ahead of their joint session with Trump. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte thanked him for his “leadership,” while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggested that Russia’s stance on peace “had changed” thanks to Trump’s efforts.
Still, the Europeans tempered their warm words with reminders of their own vulnerability. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that discussions about security guarantees were not only about Ukraine, but also about “the security of the European continent.”
