President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House alongside European leaders in an effort to secure progress toward ending the war in Ukraine. The summit focused on long-term security guarantees, direct negotiations, and Trump’s proposed trilateral meeting with Russia.
During the talks, Trump made clear that while the United States would support Ukraine with NATO-style security guarantees, he opposed granting Kyiv full NATO membership. He argued that membership would escalate tensions with Moscow and complicate peace efforts. Trump announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had signaled willingness to accept Western-led security guarantees for Ukraine, opening a potential new pathway for diplomacy.
The president also called for a future three-way meeting between himself, Zelenskyy, and Putin to pursue a final settlement. Trump downplayed the need for a formal ceasefire before negotiations, in contrast to European leaders who pushed for immediate restraint on the battlefield before moving forward. The difference underscored a key divide between Washington’s direct-action approach and Europe’s cautious, step-by-step strategy.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for U.S. leadership and welcomed Trump’s commitment to keeping Ukraine secure without deepening entanglement in NATO. European leaders, including Germany’s Friedrich Merz and France’s Emmanuel Macron, stressed the importance of unity but remained hesitant about bypassing a ceasefire.
The White House meeting signals Trump’s determination to lead global diplomacy and to broker a peace that avoids prolonged stalemate. His approach emphasizes results-driven negotiation rather than process-heavy agreements, reflecting his broader foreign policy style. The talks marked one of the most significant steps yet in reshaping the future of the conflict.
