Essential highlights from Trump's gathering with Zelenskyy, significant discussions with European heads of state
President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Oval Office for the second time on Monday, following their initial meeting in February. This visit came amidst ongoing discussions about the conflict in Ukraine, which has been ongoing for nearly four years.
During the meeting, Trump announced plans for a trilateral meeting involving the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S., should negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin prove successful. The meeting, intended to address the ongoing conflict, would follow a bilateral meeting between Zelenskyy and European leaders.
Accompanying Zelenskyy were a delegation of European leaders, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finland President Alexander Stubb.
The discussions with European leaders, particularly NATO's Rutte and France's Macron, emphasized the need for security guarantees for Ukraine, with some suggesting they should resemble Article 5 obligations. Trump, however, did not go as far as special envoy Steve Witkoff in stating that Russia had agreed to "Article 5-like" protections.
Trump did confirm that Putin had expressed a willingness to accept security guarantees for Ukraine. The U.S., according to Trump, will be involved in security assistance for Ukraine, although specifics were not provided. He also stated that Europe would shoulder much of the burden for security guarantees, but the U.S. will play a role.
The meeting with Zelenskyy was more cordial compared to the one in February, during which Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelenskyy for not being grateful enough for U.S. military assistance. After previously pushing for a ceasefire, President Trump appeared to back off the demand during the meeting.
In a surprising statement, Trump suggested that ending the war in Ukraine could be one of the reasons for him to get to heaven. This comment was made in response to a question about his personal motivation for engaging in diplomacy on the issue.
The meeting on Monday took place after Putin and Trump had a late-night conversation, and following Russia's largest attack of August on Ukraine. Despite this escalation, the discussions between the leaders remain crucial in seeking a resolution to the conflict.
In the aftermath of the meeting, it is hoped that progress will be made towards a trilateral meeting, which could potentially bring about a lasting peace in Ukraine. The international community will continue to watch developments closely as diplomatic efforts continue.
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