WASHINGTON
US President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several top European leaders on Monday for closely watched talks designed to forge a common strategy to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Speaking briefly to reporters before hours of closed-door discussions, both Trump and Zelenskyy struck a tone of cautious optimism. The atmosphere contrasted sharply with the tense February meeting at the White House, when Zelenskyy’s visit coincided with Trump’s initial push for a negotiated settlement.
Trump suggested that security guarantees for Ukraine could form part of any eventual peace arrangement. “We’ll be going over that today. Ukraine will have strong protection and security. The leaders waiting for us feel the same way,” Trump remarked, referencing the European delegation that had gathered in Washington.
He added, “These are Europe’s biggest leaders, and they’re determined to provide protection. We’ll support them. The priority is getting the deal completed.”
Those attending the talks included UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also joined the meeting.
Trump did not rule out deploying US forces as part of a potential guarantee, stating, “We’ll have more to say on that, maybe later today.”
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for Trump’s “personal efforts” to bring an end to Moscow’s war and voiced readiness to join a trilateral session with Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “We are open to trilateral talks. This is a positive signal, and I believe it is very important,” he said.
Trump has positioned the possible three-way dialogue as the next step in his peace initiative, following his meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday. While both leaders indicated progress was made, details of their discussions remain unclear.
Trump confirmed he had communicated with Putin “indirectly” before sitting down with Zelenskyy and the European officials, and said he would speak with the Russian leader directly by phone after Monday’s meetings.
Asked if the talks marked a turning point for Washington’s backing of Kyiv, Trump dismissed the notion. “It’s not the end of the road. Lives are being lost, and we want that to stop. I believe there’s a strong chance we can achieve it,” he said.
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