Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returned to the White House on Monday for discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, focusing on strategies to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The meeting saw several European leaders alter their schedules to attend, following Trump’s recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which failed to produce a ceasefire agreement.
Here are the key takeaways from the talks held in Washington.
In contrast to his previous visit to the Oval Office in February, the Ukrainian president adopted a more affable approach, engaging in cordial interactions with his American hosts, including expressing gratitude multiple times within the initial moments of the meeting.
During his prior visit, Zelensky faced criticism from Vice-President JD Vance for what was perceived as insufficient appreciation for U.S. support to Ukraine throughout the war.
Zelensky’s attire, another point of contention from the February meeting, resurfaced during this visit.
Opting for a dark suit instead of his customary military attire, Zelensky appeared prepared with a humorous response when questioned about his outfit by the same reporter who had previously criticized his lack of formal wear at the Oval Office.
Upon being complimented as “fabulous” by the reporter, Zelensky quipped that he was wearing the “same suit” as before, drawing laughter from reporters, Trump, and other officials present.
“As you see, I changed,” he added.
Zelensky also strategically engaged with Trump’s family, presenting the U.S. president with a letter from Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska intended for Melania Trump.
“It’s not to you — to your wife,” he clarified.
This gesture followed Trump’s recent delivery of a letter from Melania to Vladimir Putin in Alaska, in which she urged Putin to safeguard the “innocence” of children and “nurture the next generation’s hope.”
“She sees the heartbreak,” Trump said of his wife’s letter to Putin.
“She would love to see it end. And she says it very openly, very proudly, and with great sorrow, because so many people have been killed.”
When questioned about the necessary U.S. contributions to ensure Ukraine’s security, Zelensky was asked whether he needed troops, intelligence, or equipment.
In a moment that underscored the urgency he had largely restrained during the press conference, Zelensky leaned forward and responded emphatically: “Everything.”
“We need a strong Ukrainian army,” he added. “It’s about weapons, people, training missions and intelligence.”
Pressed further by reporters, Trump alluded to security guarantees for Kyiv.
He stated that Europe would serve as Ukraine’s “first line of defence” while also pledging U.S. involvement.
“We’ll give them good protection,” the president affirmed.
This marks Trump’s most definitive statement on security guarantees, which are widely considered vital for any potential agreement with Russia.
On Monday, the U.S. president indicated that Putin had accepted the inclusion of security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace accord during their meeting in Alaska.
However, the ambiguity surrounding the specifics of these guarantees remains a concern for both Kyiv and Europe, and leaders will likely emphasize to Trump the need for a U.S. deterrent that extends beyond symbolic measures.
Continued weapon supplies to Ukraine would be appreciated, while a commitment of American ground forces would hold even greater significance.
Securing such a level of commitment from the U.S. may prove challenging at this stage.
Nonetheless, Trump’s lack of complete dismissal offers hope to Ukraine and its allies that he could be persuaded.
One of Trump’s key objectives is to facilitate a trilateral meeting involving Zelensky and Putin.
Prior to his discussions with European leaders on Monday, he suggested that such a meeting was now a matter of “when, not if.”
While potentially less complex than establishing the terms of a peace agreement, this undertaking will still present challenges.
Zelensky has been advocating for a meeting with Putin for months, likely to demonstrate that Russia is not genuinely committed to peace, as he anticipated Putin’s reluctance to agree to such a meeting.
Indeed, the Kremlin has consistently declined, asserting two weeks ago that a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents would only be feasible “after the appropriate distance” between the two countries’ positions is “overcome.”
Trump hopes that his mediation efforts are now bridging that divide.
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Ukraine’s president and other European leaders met at the White House to talk peace.
There was a lighthearted moment when the Ukrainian president was complimented on his suit, by both President Trump and reporter Brian Glenn.
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