WASHINGTON In their second meeting of the year at the Oval Office, President Donald Trump stated that the United States would be willing to support European efforts to oversee a potential peace deal in Ukraine, while his counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressed gratitude and appeared in more formal attire.
And Vice President JD Vance remained silent.
Trump welcomed Zelenskyy and several European leaders in an attempt to revive Washington-led efforts to end Russia’s more than three-and-a-half-year war against Ukraine. The tone and setting of this gathering contrasted sharply with February’s, when the Ukrainian president had been practically pressured to leave the White House.
After the talks, Trump held a lengthy call with Russian President Vladimir Putin — who days earlier had received an honorary reception at a summit in Alaska — to discuss this extraordinary meeting of allies. Trump said he would now work to arrange a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin.
Trump Raises Possible Security Guarantees for Ukraine
One of the central issues in the peace negotiations is how to prevent further Russian aggression in the future.
Trump ruled out allowing Ukraine to join NATO, which would grant the besieged country the alliance’s military protection. However, he voiced support for security guarantees for Ukraine, though without providing details.
“European countries want to give protection, they feel very strongly about it, and we will help them with that,” Trump said.
Zelenskyy described Washington’s signal as “very strong.”
With Europe considering the creation of a force to support any peace deal, Trump suggested that Putin might agree to such guarantees. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, even claimed Moscow would be willing to accept protections similar to NATO’s for Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the idea, emphasizing: “When we talk about security guarantees, we are talking about the security of the entire European continent.”
Macron added that discussions to define the U.S. position could begin as early as Tuesday.
Europe Praises Trump but Warns of Challenges Ahead
European leaders arrived in Washington presenting a united front on Ukraine, and many used their public remarks to praise Trump, a striking gesture given the backdrop of trade and tariff tensions.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte addressed Trump as “dear Donald” and said that, with good management, the conflict could be brought to an end. Later, in a television interview, he called Trump “extraordinary” and clarified that no talk of territorial exchanges in Ukraine had taken place.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed that there had been “real progress” and “a genuine sense of unity.”
Before private talks began, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen underlined that all parties were working together toward “a just and lasting peace.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz struck a more cautious note: “The path is now open to stop the fighting, but the next steps are more complicated.”
“Let’s try to put pressure on Russia,” he added, while acknowledging that an immediate cease-fire remained uncertain. Trump, for his part, did not consider it a priority, aligning with Putin’s position of focusing instead on a long-term peace agreement.
A More Formal Zelenskyy and a Different Reception
Monday’s meeting with Trump was radically different from the one six months earlier, when the U.S. president had scolded him for not being sufficiently grateful for American military aid.
This time, Zelenskyy appeared in a black shirt and jacket, a detail that did not go unnoticed. A reporter who in February had criticized him for not wearing a suit now told him: “You look fabulous.” Trump joked that he agreed.
Zelenskyy himself added humor: “I changed, you did not,” drawing laughter in the room.
The Ukrainian president also repeatedly thanked the U.S. and Europe for their support, and highlighted a letter sent by First Lady Melania Trump to Putin, urging him to stop the killing of children in the war.
Next Steps: Back to Putin
Although Trump had boasted during his campaign that he could solve the war in a single day, on Monday he admitted the situation was “much more complicated” than he had imagined.
Still, he sounded optimistic, saying that within “one or two weeks” it might be clear whether the conflict would be resolved or continue.
Delicate issues remain, such as the possible fate of the Donbas, the future of Ukraine’s military, and long-term security guarantees.
Trump said he was working toward a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, though Moscow only confirmed a 40-minute call between Putin and Trump, during which both expressed support for continuing direct talks.
Zelenskyy, for his part, said there was no set date, but that Washington was suggesting it take place as soon as possible: “But for that, all sides need to agree,” he added. On the territorial question, he concluded: “That’s an issue I will leave between Putin and myself.”
Meanwhile, European leaders such as Macron did not rule out a future broader summit involving Trump, Zelenskyy, Putin, and EU representatives, noting: “The idea of a trilateral meeting is very important, because it is the only way to resolve this.”
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