Tensions rise within the White House as they grapple with the truce in Ukraine.
In the heart of Washington D.C., the White House played host to a significant multilateral summit on August 18, 2025, attended by world leaders including President Donald Trump, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Ministers Meloni and Starmer, European Commission President von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Rutte. The aim was to strengthen coordination between the U.S. and European nations towards a "just and lasting peace" that safeguards Ukraine’s vital interests and European security.
The summit marked a significant step forward in the pursuit of a ceasefire agreement. President Trump had earlier pushed for a deadline for Russia to halt its offensive, planning meetings with Putin, Zelensky, and European leaders to negotiate peace terms.
During the summit, the leaders discussed strong security guarantees for Ukraine, reminiscent of NATO's collective defence principle. This represents a major shift towards formalizing security commitments, although Russia strongly opposes territorial concessions demanded by Moscow. German Chancellor Merz criticized Russia’s demand for Ukraine to cede Donbass territory, comparing it to the U.S. having to give up Florida.
French President Macron emphasized that security guarantees must apply to the whole European continent and warned about the risk of intensified Russian missile attacks during peace talks. The effort to forge a peace deal is hampered by Russia’s sustained war effort, with reports that Russia can continue its campaign for years despite sanctions.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the difficulty of achieving a peace deal requiring concessions from both Russia and Ukraine and stressed that the U.S. role is facilitating dialogue rather than imposing terms.
Despite the challenges, there were signs of optimism. Chancellor Merz sees a path to peace in Ukraine, and French President Macron considers a three-way meeting between Putin, Zelensky, and Trump to be crucial for resolving the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized Ukraine's readiness for a real ceasefire and the establishment of a new security architecture.
During Zelensky's current White House visit, Trump received him warmly, in contrast to his last visit in February. Trump has assured that the U.S. will provide Ukraine with very good protection and security. The details of these security guarantees, including the stationing of US troops, remain open and are yet to be discussed.
Russia has rejected the stationing of troops from NATO countries in Ukraine. NATO Secretary-General Rutte has called it a big step that Trump had agreed to participate in security guarantees for Ukraine. Macron believes that a four-way meeting with European involvement may also be necessary for achieving a robust and lasting peace.
Trump is pursuing the plan of bringing Putin and Zelensky directly to the negotiating table, with the goal of ending the Russian invasion war. The leaders emphasized that a durable peace must balance Ukraine's territorial integrity with broader European security concerns, but implementation remains uncertain. Fears from the European side that Zelensky could be treated similarly by Trump as in February were not fulfilled during the current visit.
As the world watches, the leaders continue their efforts to bring peace to Ukraine, with the hope that a lasting solution can be found that respects the sovereignty and security of all parties involved.
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