President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday, as each signaled willingness for joint peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The atmosphere was much more cordial than their meeting in March, and Trump said he wanted to put the 3 ½-year war between Ukraine and Russia “to sleep.”
Trump had promised to end the war within 24 hours of taking office. Seven months later, he tried to broker a deal after saying Zelenskyy must agree to some of Russia’s conditions, including ceding Crimea and never joining NATO.
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“People are being killed and we want to stop that,” Trump said. “I would not say it’s the end of the road, we have a good chance of doing it. It’s been four years now. A lot of people were killed last week.”
Speaking with reporters, Trump provided few specifics on his plan to end hostilities. However, he did not immediately rule out sending American troops to the frontlines.
“We’re gonna work with Ukraine, we’re gonna work with everybody, we’re gonna make [sure] that if there’s peace, the peace is gonna stay long-term,” Trump said.
Although he once warned of “severe consequences” if the two sides did not agree to a ceasefire, Trump said Monday that’s not his aim as he negotiates with Zelenskyy and Putin. The sentiment was backed by a key aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump added that other peace deals he’s made did not involve ceasefires.
“I didn’t do any ceasefires,” Trump said. “I like the concept of a ceasefire for one reason, because you’d stop killing people immediately as opposed to in two weeks or one week, or whatever it takes. But we can work a deal where we’re working on a peace deal while they’re fighting, they have to fight.”
Trump said he planned to have a phone call with Putin following the meeting with Zelenskyy and promised a trilateral meeting of the three leaders.
“We may or may not have a trilat,” Trump said. “If we don’t have a trilat, then the fighting continues, and if we do, we have a good chance — I think if we have a trilat, there’s a good chance of maybe ending it.”
European leaders accompany Zelenskyy
Trump also met Monday with several European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron of France, Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom and Alexander Stubb of Finland.
Zelenskyy is seeking security guarantees from Western nations if Russia agrees to end the war.
“We need to stop this war, to stop Russia,” Zelenskyy said. “We need support from our American and European partners.”
“It includes two parts,” he added. “First, a strong Ukrainian army. It’s a lot about weapons and people and training missions and intelligence. Second, we will discuss with our big partners. It depends on big countries. It depends on the United States and a lot of our friends.”
Diplomatic niceties
In stark contrast to their previous White House meeting, Zelenskyy and Trump appeared to get along much better during Monday’s summit.
Zelenskyy wore a suit, unlike his customary military uniform that offended Trump and Vice President JD Vance during the last meeting. Then, a reporter for far-right outlet Real America News also questioned Zelenskyy about his outfit, and the same reporter brought it up Monday.
“You are in the same suit,” Zelenskyy joked. “You see I changed, you are not.”
Zelenskyy also thanked Trump several times for his support, following criticism from Vance that he didn’t show sufficient appreciation during the March meeting.
Reporters asked Zelenskyy whether he’d be open to holding an election in his country. He said he would, especially after the war ends. The comment prompted Trump to muse about staying in power himself.
“So let me just say, three and a half years from now…so you mean if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections?” Trump said.
“No,” Zelenskyy answered.
Zelenskyy also gave Trump a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska, for First Lady Melania Trump. Trump gave Putin a letter from his wife calling for an end to the war.
“She has a wonderful son that she loves, probably more than anybody including me, I hate to say it,” Trump said. “She loves her son, she loves children, and she hates to see something like this happening.”
