President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned to Washington on Monday for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and several European leaders to advance efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. The meetings followed Trump’s recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which ended without securing a ceasefire.
Trump conveyed optimism, but European leaders were more cautious, and no binding agreements on security guarantees or peace negotiations were reached.
Trump announced on social media that he had contacted Putin to arrange a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, followed by a trilateral session including Trump. A Kremlin official confirmed a 40-minute phone call between Trump and Putin.
Ahead of talks, Trump was overheard telling 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,” suggesting Putin’s willingness.
However, securing a meeting between the two presidents remains challenging, with Moscow consistently rejecting such proposals. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov mentioned the potential to raise the level of dialogue.
Trump questioned the necessity of a ceasefire before negotiations, contradicting Ukraine’s position that hostilities must cease first. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz strongly rejected this, insisting, “I can’t imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire.”
Trump assured Zelenskyy of U.S. support for Ukraine’s security in any peace deal, though details were unclear, and he did not rule out American military presence. Zelenskyy said security guarantees would likely be formalised within ten days, including a $90 billion arms deal supplying advanced weapons and undisclosed equipment. The U.S. also plans to buy Ukrainian drones to support domestic production.
Zelenskyy took a more conciliatory approach compared to his last visit, expressing gratitude frequently and presenting Trump with a letter from Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska addressed to Melania Trump.
European leaders praised Trump’s leadership in convening the talks, but voiced concern about ongoing risks. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasised that security guarantees also pertain to European stability.