Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described his latest meeting with Donald Trump as the most constructive talks they’ve had so far.
The two leaders met at the White House alongside European heads of state, including Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, Giorgia Meloni, Friedrich Merz, and Alexander Stubb, to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine.
Zelensky said the talks touched on “sensitive matters, including security guarantees,” and thanked Trump for showing willingness to support Ukraine. Trump, in turn, promised that the United States would provide Ukraine with security guarantees as part of a broader peace deal, and claimed Russia would accept such terms.
While Trump argued that a ceasefire isn’t necessary to reach a settlement, European leaders pushed back, with Macron and Merz stressing that an immediate ceasefire should be the first step. Trump added that he plans to call Vladimir Putin soon to move discussions forward and even suggested arranging a trilateral meeting between the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia.
Despite disagreements over timing, European leaders praised Trump for opening the door to negotiations. Macron framed the issue as one concerning the security of the entire European continent, while Starmer called the possibility of security guarantees a “historic step forward.”
The day was filled with both serious discussions and lighter moments. Trump complimented Zelensky’s suit, and the two leaders shared a laugh in contrast to the tense exchanges they had during their February Oval Office meeting.
Still, the atmosphere carried weight. As they posed for photos and sat around the long White House table, the European leaders appeared solemn, aware of how critical these talks could be.
Zelensky emphasized that he had shown Trump detailed maps of the battlefield and that Ukraine remained ready to cooperate on any credible path to peace. Trump, for his part, vowed that “the war is going to end” and said he believed peace was “within reach.”
Air raid sirens continued to sound in eastern Ukraine as these discussions took place— a stark reminder of the urgency behind the leaders’ words.
