Zelensky to Meet Trump to Discuss Ending Ukraine War
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he will meet with President Trump in the Oval Office on Monday to engage in discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict and halting violence.
Zelensky, who held a conversation lasting over 90 minutes with Trump while the latter was aboard Air Force One returning to Washington after a nearly three-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, shared details of their dialogue.
Initially, the call was a bilateral discussion for more than an hour before various European leaders joined the conversation.
Zelensky commended Trump’s initiatives aimed at establishing a cease-fire amidst the invasion initiated by Putin in February 2022, which has now persisted for three years.
“Ukraine stands ready to apply maximum effort towards achieving peace,” Zelensky communicated via X on Saturday, noting that Trump had briefed him on his encounter with the Russian leader and key discussion points. “It matters that the influence of America shapes the ongoing situation,” he asserted.
Trump indicated that a trilateral meeting involving himself, Zelensky, and Putin could be arranged “if Monday’s meeting goes well.”
“If all goes as planned, we’ll set up a meeting with President Putin; potentially, this could save millions of lives,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday.
“Ukraine endorses Trump’s idea for a meeting with the US and Russia. Crucial topics can effectively be tackled at the leadership level, and this trilateral format is advantageous,” Zelensky stated.
The phone call also included NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
A consensus emerged during the call that a direct Peace Agreement would be the preferred solution to end the devastating war rather than a temporary Ceasefire Agreement, which often fails to maintain stability, Trump commented.
European leaders subsequently released a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to Ukraine.
“They applauded President Trump’s efforts to halt hostilities in Ukraine, end Russia’s aggression, and foster a just and lasting peace,” the declaration read.
The group emphasized their unwavering support for Ukraine’s pursuit of security guarantees alongside American assistance.
Zelensky urged European leaders to align with Trump in pressuring Russia to cease hostilities, which have claimed nearly 14,000 lives in Ukraine.
He stated, “It’s crucial for European involvement at every phase to ensure reliable security guarantees alongside America. We talked about promising developments from the American side regarding Ukraine’s security. We continue to coordinate our positions with all allies. I express gratitude to all who are aiding.”
Trump met with Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, marking their first face-to-face encounter since Trump’s initial presidency.
At the conclusion of their nearly three-hour meeting, both leaders held a joint press conference, during which Trump asserted that considerable progress was made toward resolving the conflict but also noted that “there’s no agreement until there’s an agreement.”
“Numerous points of consensus were reached, most of them,” Trump remarked in a media briefing, while withholding specifics from their discussions.
Both leaders spoke vaguely about the details, with Putin echoing Trump’s sentiments regarding the meeting’s productivity while claiming that the two had reached an “understanding” without elaborating further.
Putin expressed hope that this mutual agreement would serve as a foundation for resolving the crisis in Ukraine and restoring pragmatic relations between Russia and the U.S.
“I hope this understanding will bring us closer to achieving peace in Ukraine,” Putin added, urging Kyiv and European capitals to respond positively and avoid complicating matters.
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