Zelenskyy to Hold Discussion with Trump in Washington D.C. on Monday.
Ukraine, U.S., and European Leaders Seek Cooperation to End Conflict
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, August 18, 2025, in an effort to achieve a lasting peace for Ukraine that safeguards its vital interests and European security. The meeting, which included several European leaders, aimed to coordinate between the U.S. and European allies regarding the Ukrainian conflict.
The discussions focused on various key points. President Trump committed to providing Ukraine with "very good protection" and future security guarantees after a peace agreement. He emphasized that Europe would serve as the "first line of defense" for Ukraine, but the U.S. would remain involved in Ukraine's protection.
The possibility of a three-way meeting between Trump, Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate peace was raised, though Russia had not agreed to this proposal. The meeting came after Trump’s summit with Putin failed to secure a ceasefire, and there was an emphasis on pursuing a peace deal rather than just a ceasefire. European leaders pressed for security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any deal and suggested that a ceasefire would be necessary before further negotiations.
President Macron and other European leaders joined the discussions to show unified support for Ukraine and coordinate diplomatic and security efforts. Macron noted that the topic of large-scale U.S. arms purchases by Ukraine was not discussed, emphasizing that security guarantees would require contributions from multiple parties, including Russia's participation in reconstruction.
The meeting in Washington marked Zelensky's first visit to the White House since a failed meeting in late February. The leaders of the United States and Russia, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, had met in Alaska on Friday, but the meeting in Alaska did not produce any announcement regarding a solution to the conflict in Ukraine.
During the joint press conference at the end of the summit, neither Putin nor Trump took questions about the discussions. Zelensky was not invited to the joint press conference following the summit. However, the phone call between Zelensky and Trump was a long and substantial conversation.
After the Alaska summit, Zelensky spoke with Trump by phone. Trump stated that the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine now depends on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump suggested that the European countries should also get involved in resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
The meeting between Putin and Trump took place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage. The initial conversation between Zelensky and Trump was a one-hour private conversation. Despite the tense discussion in the Oval Office during the failed meeting in late February, the tone of the meeting in Washington was not reported to be tense.
Overall, the meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation among the U.S. and European countries in support of Ukraine and explore diplomatic avenues to end the conflict while ensuring Ukraine’s security and sovereignty. The shadow of the end of Putin's diplomatic isolation may provide an opportunity for progress in resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
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