President Donald Trump has called recent high-level discussions at the White House a “very good, early step” toward ending the nearly four-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine.
The talks, which included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders, focused on security guarantees and the possibility of direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.
Following the summit, Trump revealed he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin to begin organizing a direct meeting with Zelenskyy. He also floated the idea of a future trilateral summit involving himself, Putin, and Zelenskyy. While the Kremlin acknowledged the conversation, it stopped short of confirming Putin’s participation in a leader-level meeting.
Zelenskyy expressed openness to both bilateral and trilateral formats, emphasizing Ukraine’s commitment to pursuing peace through dialogue at the highest level.
A major focus of the talks was the concept of long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. Trump stated that European nations would take the lead in providing these assurances, with the U.S. playing a coordinating role. While he previously hinted at possible American military involvement, Trump now emphasizes arms sales over aid packages. Ukraine has reportedly proposed purchasing up to $100 billion in U.S. weapons, financed by European partners.
During the meeting, Trump and Zelenskyy reviewed battlefield maps showing Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory – currently estimated at around 20% of the country. Sources suggest Trump may have raised the possibility of land swaps as part of a peace deal, though such concessions remain highly controversial in Ukraine, where public sentiment has hardened after years of conflict.
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a stern warning against any NATO-style security arrangements, claiming such moves could provoke “uncontrolled escalation.” This underscores the challenge of reconciling Ukraine’s security needs with Russia’s strategic demands.
European leaders attending the summit – including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer – stressed the importance of a ceasefire before any meaningful negotiations can proceed. Merz stated, “The credibility of these efforts depends on at least a ceasefire.”
Despite the diplomatic momentum, Russian drone strikes killed seven civilians in Kharkiv during the White House meeting, a grim reminder of the ongoing violence. Zelenskyy condemned the attacks, calling them an attempt to undermine peace efforts.
