US President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and top European leaders Monday for crucial peace negotiations. The meeting, marked by optimism, contrasted sharply with the tense Oval Office encounter during Zelenskyy’s February visit earlier this year.
Trump indicated US security guarantees could be part of any prospective peace deal, signaling readiness to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“We will give them very good protection, very good security,” Trump said, emphasising European leaders’ alignment with this commitment. Among attendees were UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also joined the discussions. Trump did not dismiss the possibility of sending US forces to Ukraine as part of potential security assurances.
Zelenskyy thanked Trump for his personal efforts and expressed willingness to participate in a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has positioned the proposed three-way meeting as the next step following his recent talks with Putin in Alaska.
While details from the Alaska discussions remain scarce, Trump claimed indirect communication with Putin had taken place ahead of Monday’s session. He added he would speak by phone with the Russian leader immediately after concluding the White House meetings.
Asked whether these discussions signal an end to US support for Ukraine, Trump insisted, “It’s never the end of the road. People are being killed.” The high-profile meeting reflects the ongoing, delicate push to secure a diplomatic resolution to the protracted war in Ukraine.
