US President Donald Trump on Monday welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House, signaling optimism that negotiations with Russia could move closer to a peace settlement.
The encounter marked the first meeting between the two leaders since a tense Oval Office confrontation in February, and it came shortly after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Despite ongoing disagreements over the concessions Washington expects Kyiv to make, Trump said prospects for peace were improving. “There’s a good chance” of ending the war launched by Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, he told reporters.
Trump revealed he planned to speak directly with Putin later in the day and suggested that a three-way meeting might follow. “I think if everything works out well today we’ll have a trilat, and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that,” he said while seated beside Zelensky.
The Ukrainian leader arrived in Washington accompanied by several senior European allies, including leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Commission and NATO. Expressing gratitude, Zelensky told Trump: “Thank you very much for your efforts, personal efforts to stop killings and stop this war.”
The mood was noticeably friendlier than during their last meeting, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly scolded Zelensky for what they claimed was a lack of appreciation for US aid. This time, Trump even praised Zelensky’s familiar wartime attire. “I love it,” Trump said, pointing to his black jacket as they shook hands outside the West Wing.
Still, the lighter atmosphere masked ongoing tensions. Many in Kyiv and European capitals worry Trump is leaning closer to Putin’s position after the Alaska talks, particularly as he continues pressing Ukraine to relinquish Crimea and abandon NATO membership ambitions.
Zelensky, for his part, stressed the importance of firm Western guarantees to underpin any peace framework. Trump confirmed the US role but left specifics vague. “The United States would be involved” in Ukraine’s future security, he said, while declining to clarify whether American troops might play a role. “We’ll let you know that maybe later today.”
Ahead of the White House discussions, Zelensky met with Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, as well as with European leaders who convened in Washington for preparatory talks. Describing the meeting as “very serious,” Zelensky also adopted Trump’s own language. “President Trump has that strength. We have to do everything right to make peace happen,” he said.
On social media, the Ukrainian president reiterated his call for a “reliable and lasting peace for Ukraine and for the whole of Europe.”
Meanwhile, reports suggested Putin could accept certain Western security guarantees for Ukraine, but only if Kyiv drops its NATO ambitions.
Trump himself has repeated Russian-aligned arguments in recent days, saying Ukraine could end the conflict quickly if it wished. “Almost immediately, if he wants to,” Trump said Sunday, adding that for Kyiv, “there was no getting back Crimea” and “NO GOING INTO NATO.”
Reemphasizing his view on Monday, Trump said a ceasefire was not a necessary condition for talks.
