Washington, USA – The White House witnessed an unusually crowded diplomatic stage on Monday as U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and seven top European leaders for crucial talks on the Russia-Ukraine war. The rare gathering underscored the urgency of shaping a collective strategy after months of battlefield stalemate and shifting global alliances.\
RELATED NEWS : Zelenskiy calls Indian, Saudi leaders ahead of Trump-Putin talks
The meeting came just days after Trump’s surprise face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. While that meeting ended without a breakthrough, it set the tone for renewed efforts toward a negotiated settlement, with Trump positioning himself as a central broker between Moscow, Kyiv, and European capitals.
Security Guarantees: The Core Issue
At the heart of Monday’s discussions was the question of security guarantees for Ukraine, a topic that dominated both the bilateral and multilateral sessions.
During his one-on-one with Zelensky, Trump sidestepped a direct answer when asked if American troops would be part of such guarantees. “They are the first line of defense because they’re there, but we’re going to help them out also. We’ll be involved,” Trump said, suggesting Europe would shoulder most of the immediate responsibility, with U.S. backing.
According to participants, the phrase “security guarantees” was raised nearly 20 times in the broader discussions with European leaders. Zelensky said he valued Washington’s willingness to provide a “strong signal” of support. Several European leaders pointed to NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense principle as a model, though they stopped short of promising full NATO-style protection.
Trump later posted on Truth Social that he had held a “very good meeting,” stressing that European countries would take the lead, with U.S. coordination. Zelensky added that Ukraine’s proposal for nearly $90 billion in U.S. weapons purchases was on the table. The Financial Times reported that Kyiv’s total request could reach $100 billion, financed largely by European partners.
Toward a Trilateral Summit?
Zelensky reiterated his readiness for a diplomatic solution and expressed support for a trilateral summit involving the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine. Trump said such a gathering could offer a “reasonable chance” to end the war, provided Monday’s talks laid the groundwork.
French President Emmanuel Macron called a trilateral meeting “the only way forward,” adding that it should eventually expand into a quadrilateral framework to address broader European security concerns. “When we speak about security guarantees, we speak about the whole security of the European continent,” Macron said.
Trump revealed he had already spoken by phone with Putin after the meetings, beginning preparations for a bilateral Zelensky–Putin encounter, with the location to be determined. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that Putin had agreed in principle to meet Zelensky within two weeks.
Disagreements on Ceasefire
Despite optimism, sharp divisions remain over the conditions for further talks. Merz argued that a ceasefire was essential before any trilateral summit. “I can’t imagine the next meeting taking place without a ceasefire,” he said.
Trump countered: “We just got into negotiations. I don’t think you need a ceasefire,” suggesting that talks could proceed while fighting continues.
This divergence highlighted the differing strategic approaches: Europe pressing for an immediate halt to hostilities to prevent further bloodshed, while Trump pushed for speedier negotiations that might bypass traditional preconditions.
Territorial Red Lines
The thorniest issue remains territorial sovereignty. On Sunday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Zelensky could “end the conflict almost immediately” if he dropped Ukraine’s NATO ambitions and conceded Crimea to Russia. “Some things never change!!!” Trump added.
Zelensky refused to commit publicly, telling reporters only that territorial questions would be settled directly between Moscow and Kyiv. When pressed on whether Ukraine was prepared to “redraw maps” as part of a peace settlement, he did not give a definitive answer.
Europe’s Role and Next Steps
For Europe, Monday’s talks marked both a show of unity and a test of political will. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for coordination, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for renewed Western solidarity as the war enters its third year.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb warned that delays in guarantees could embolden Moscow, while Macron pushed for a broader security framework that extended beyond Ukraine.
Though no joint communiqué was issued, leaders agreed to reconvene within weeks. Trump’s team confirmed that discussions are already underway to set the agenda for potential Zelensky–Putin and trilateral summits.
The Road Ahead
The White House meetings highlighted both progress and persistent fault lines. Ukraine left with tentative promises of massive security assistance, while Trump positioned himself as the architect of a new peace process.
But the lack of consensus on ceasefire conditions and territorial concessions underscored just how complicated any settlement will be. As German Chancellor Merz put it: “The way is open for complicated negotiations.”
For now, the world watches to see whether Trump can deliver a breakthrough—or whether this summit will join a long list of missed opportunities in the Russia-Ukraine war.
SOURCE : AGENCIES | Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |
