Zelensky Heads to Washington for Key Talks with Trump and European Leaders
Washington, D.C. – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has consistently rejected giving up Ukrainian territory, is set to meet former U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and other international leaders will also attend.
The meeting comes just days after Trump held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. While the Alaska summit failed to produce a ceasefire, both leaders pledged “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine. Zelensky was not invited to that meeting, where Trump echoed Russia’s long-standing position that a ceasefire is unnecessary before a final peace deal.
On social media, Trump commented: “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight. Remember how it started… No going into NATO by Ukraine. Some things never change!!!”
According to the White House schedule, Zelensky and Trump are expected to hold a private one-on-one discussion before joining a wider meeting with European leaders. Alongside von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and the leaders of Britain, Finland, France, Germany, and Italy will participate.
This will mark Zelensky’s first visit to Washington since tensions with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in February, when he was criticized as “ungrateful.” Arriving in the U.S. on Sunday night, Zelensky said: “We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably.”
Security Guarantees
Since February, Trump has become more critical of Putin, expressing frustration at Russia’s repeated delays in peace talks. However, Washington has not imposed additional sanctions on Moscow. Putin’s high-profile Alaska visit—the first to the West since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022—was seen as a diplomatic win for Russia.
Speaking from Brussels ahead of his U.S. trip, Zelensky emphasized the importance of learning more about the Alaska discussions. He described Washington’s offer of security guarantees for Ukraine as “historic.” Trump said he spoke with Putin about a NATO-style collective defense guarantee for Ukraine—though outside the framework of the alliance Ukraine seeks to join.
French President Emmanuel Macron noted that European leaders would press Trump on how far the U.S. is willing to support Ukraine’s security.
Talks on Territory
Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Moscow had made “some concessions” regarding five Ukrainian regions under Russian control and that discussions about Donetsk would be detailed on Monday, though he did not provide specifics.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and four Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia—in 2022, even without full military control. According to sources briefed on a recent call between Trump and European leaders, the former U.S. president appeared willing to support Russia’s claim to parts of the Donbas region, in exchange for Moscow “freezing” its front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
Previously, Russia had demanded that Ukraine withdraw from all four regions before any deal could proceed.
European Concerns
European officials worry that the U.S. could pressure Ukraine to accept Russian demands. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski warned: “For peace to prevail, pressure must be applied to the aggressor, not the victim of aggression.” Macron added, “There is only one state proposing a peace that would be a capitulation: Russia.”
Zelensky has repeatedly refused to cede territory but indicated willingness to discuss the issue in a potential trilateral summit with Trump and Putin. Trump has floated the idea of such a meeting, though Moscow has downplayed its likelihood.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to make gradual advances, particularly in Donetsk. Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian attacks on Kharkiv killed three and wounded dozens on Monday, while a separate strike on the Sumy region injured two more.
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