Washington-Ukraine summit: Lots of confidence, but little substance
The Ukraine summit in Washington has begun. In a relaxed conversation with Ukrainian President Zelensky, US President Trump expressed confidence that he could end the war—but he didn’t elaborate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss a possible end to the war in Ukraine.
In the Oval Office, Trump and Zelensky first answered questions from journalists present before the two sides began a closed-door bilateral meeting. Zelensky had previously been greeted by Trump with a friendly handshake at the entrance to the White House.
Trump: We want to end the war
At the beginning of the public meeting, Trump emphasized his desire to end the war in Ukraine. “We want this, Russia wants this, we all want to end the war,” Trump said. He has already ended six wars, the US president said, without specifying which ones.
Trump again denied the need for a ceasefire in Ukraine. “We can work on a deal while they’re fighting,” he said. Zelensky and Ukraine’s European allies had always made a ceasefire a prerequisite for peace talks with Russia.
No answer to the question about security guarantees
Trump dodged a journalist’s question about US peacekeeping troops. He said they might learn more later in the day. The US president also left unanswered a question about specific details regarding security guarantees for Ukraine. At the same time, he added: “We will give them very good protection, very good security.”
Previously, the US government had mooted a NATO-like pledge of protection to Ukraine by the US and European states – which could entail intervention in the event of a military attack. Trump pointed out that European heads of state and government were also in the White House who wanted to guarantee Ukraine’s protection. “And we will help them do that.” He considered this very important.
Trump keeps digressing from the topic
During the conversation, Trump repeatedly digressed from the actual topic of Ukraine. The US president spoke about alleged problems with voting machines in the US, migration policy, the security situation in the capital, Washington, and even his family. Zelenskyy, however, rarely spoke. The Ukrainian president thanked Trump for his efforts.
Before he arrived at the White House, Zelenskyy emphasized his desire to achieve a “reliable and lasting peace.” Ukraine is ready for a “real ceasefire” and the creation of a “new security architecture,” he wrote on Platform X.
On Friday, the US President met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska . Afterward, concerns arose that the US might make too many concessions to Russia.
Subsequent meeting with representatives from Europe
Following the media appearance, Trump and Zelenskyy withdrew for a closed-door discussion.
A round of talks is currently taking place between Trump, Zelensky, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European heads of state and government: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
