Donald Trump held key meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday. The US president assured that the States would be involved in Kyiv's "future security" as Russia continues its aggression against the war-torn nation.
"It's an honour to have the President of Ukraine with us. We have had a lot of good discussions, a lot of good talks. I think progress is being made, very substantial progress in many ways. We had a good meeting just a short while ago with the President of Russia. I think, there is a possibility that something could come out of it and today's meeting is very important. We have 7 very powerful leaders from Europe and are going to be meeting with them right after this meeting," Trump said.
Trump pressed for a lasting peace instead of a "two-year" one that would end up in "mess" again.
"We are going to work with Ukraine, we are going to work with everybody. We are going to make sure that if there is peace, peace is going to stay long term. This is very long-term. We are not talking about a two-year peace and then we end up in this mess again. We are going to make sure that everything is good. We have worked with Russia, we are going to work with Ukraine. We are going to make sure it works, I think if we can get to peace, it's going to work. I have no doubt it," he said.
European leaders including UK PM Keir Starmer, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen among others were also present at the White House.
The hastily assembled meet comes after last week's non-conclusive Alaska summit between Russian President Vladmir Putin and Trump.
Key points from the meet:
Here's what happened at Alaska meet
European officials said that Trump informed them that Putin remains intent on seizing full control of the Donbas region, despite significant portions of it still being held by Ukraine.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, indicated that the US and its allies might extend a Nato-style defense pledge to Ukraine as a potential security guarantee, with the specifics yet to be finalized.
Moreover, Putin said that he and Trump had reached an “understanding” on Ukraine and that they “hope that the understanding we have reached will... pave the way for peace in Ukraine,” but neither side announced concrete, binding measures at the summit.
On the eve of the meeting, Trump appeared to place the responsibility on Zelenskyy to accept concessions, arguing that Ukraine would not be able to reclaim Crimea, seized by Russia in 2014, a move that triggered conflict and eventually escalated into the full-scale invasion of 2022.
"President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight," Trump wrote Sunday night on social media. “Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!” Trump said.
"It's an honour to have the President of Ukraine with us. We have had a lot of good discussions, a lot of good talks. I think progress is being made, very substantial progress in many ways. We had a good meeting just a short while ago with the President of Russia. I think, there is a possibility that something could come out of it and today's meeting is very important. We have 7 very powerful leaders from Europe and are going to be meeting with them right after this meeting," Trump said.
Trump pressed for a lasting peace instead of a "two-year" one that would end up in "mess" again.
"We are going to work with Ukraine, we are going to work with everybody. We are going to make sure that if there is peace, peace is going to stay long term. This is very long-term. We are not talking about a two-year peace and then we end up in this mess again. We are going to make sure that everything is good. We have worked with Russia, we are going to work with Ukraine. We are going to make sure it works, I think if we can get to peace, it's going to work. I have no doubt it," he said.
#WATCH | Washington, DC | US President Donald Trump says, "We are going to work with Ukraine, we are going to work with everybody. We are going to make sure that if there is peace, peace is going to stay long term. This is very long-term. We are not talking about a two-year peace… pic.twitter.com/NLmJn0USvU
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2025
European leaders including UK PM Keir Starmer, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen among others were also present at the White House.
The hastily assembled meet comes after last week's non-conclusive Alaska summit between Russian President Vladmir Putin and Trump.
Key points from the meet:
- Trump said “substantial progress” was being made in his efforts to end the war in Ukraine. “We’ve had a lot of good discussions and a lot of good talks, and I think progress is being made, very substantial progress in many ways,” he said.
- Trump will talk to Putin after meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House.
- Trump hinted at a possible trilateral meet if "everything worked out". "We're going to have a meeting. I think if everything works out well today we'll have a trilat and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that,"
- US president said that Putin wanted war to end, however, he ruled out ceasefire. "I don't think you need a ceasefire,"
- Trump noted that the aim was not a "two-year peace", rather a lasting one.
- Zelenskyy presented Trump a letter from the Ukrainian first lady to Melania Trump. “My wife, first lady of Ukraine, she gave the letter. It’s not to you – to your wife,” he said.
Here's what happened at Alaska meet
European officials said that Trump informed them that Putin remains intent on seizing full control of the Donbas region, despite significant portions of it still being held by Ukraine.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, indicated that the US and its allies might extend a Nato-style defense pledge to Ukraine as a potential security guarantee, with the specifics yet to be finalized.
Moreover, Putin said that he and Trump had reached an “understanding” on Ukraine and that they “hope that the understanding we have reached will... pave the way for peace in Ukraine,” but neither side announced concrete, binding measures at the summit.
On the eve of the meeting, Trump appeared to place the responsibility on Zelenskyy to accept concessions, arguing that Ukraine would not be able to reclaim Crimea, seized by Russia in 2014, a move that triggered conflict and eventually escalated into the full-scale invasion of 2022.
"President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight," Trump wrote Sunday night on social media. “Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!” Trump said.
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