Trump, Zelenskyy and European Leaders Hold High-Stakes White House Talks on Ukraine War
President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders at the White House on Monday, signaling renewed efforts to end Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The discussions followed Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week.
Zelenskyy described the meeting as “a significant step” toward ending the conflict and securing guarantees for Ukraine’s safety. In a statement, he noted that negotiations had begun on concrete measures for security assurances. “This was truly a significant step toward ending the war and ensuring the security of Ukraine and our people,” Zelenskyy said.
Talks included leaders from France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the European Commission. Discussions centered on security guarantees, coordination of future negotiations, and the possibility of a trilateral meeting involving Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin.
The White House confirmed that planning is underway for such a meeting, though no date has been set. “The president of the United States supported a trilateral meeting at the level of leaders: Ukraine, U.S. and Russia,” Zelenskyy told reporters. “Agreement on all sides is needed.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy could take place within two weeks, though the location remains undecided. Merz noted that persuading Putin to attend remains a challenge but emphasized that Monday’s talks exceeded expectations.
Trump announced that he had already spoken with Putin to begin arrangements. He stated that after a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, he would join the leaders for trilateral talks. “This was a very good, early step for a war that has been going on for almost four years,” Trump said.
The Kremlin confirmed that Trump and Putin had agreed to continue supporting direct negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations. However, Moscow has not yet committed to a one-on-one meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy. Past attempts to secure such engagements, including proposed meetings in Turkey and at the Vatican, have failed.
Security guarantees for Ukraine were a central theme during the White House discussions. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stressed that such guarantees are a prerequisite for lasting peace. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that the security of Ukraine is tied to the security of the European continent. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he believed real progress could be made on this front.
Trump said he was optimistic about reaching a resolution, including progress on security measures. Yet Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova rejected any arrangement involving NATO troops in Ukraine, warning it could trigger uncontrolled escalation. European leaders continued to press for commitments resembling NATO’s Article 5 protections, despite Moscow’s firm stance.
As negotiations advance, both Ukrainian and U.S. officials underscored that national security advisors are in constant contact, working to define the formats for future talks. Zelenskyy confirmed that coordination at the leadership level will continue in the coming days.
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, is scheduled to brief reporters on Tuesday to provide updates on the progress of the negotiations.
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