Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed his talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday as the “best yet,” praising Trump’s efforts to help end the bloodshed in Ukraine.
The meeting came just days after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Zelenskyy, joined in Washington by a delegation of European leaders, thanked Trump for his engagement, saying, “We want to stop the killings and achieve a reliable peace.” He also reiterated that Ukraine is ready for a “real truce” backed by international guarantees.
Trump, however, struck a different tone, arguing that a ceasefire was not necessary at this stage of the war. He cautioned that halting hostilities could allow forces to regroup, remarking: “You have a ceasefire and they rebuild and rebuild. Maybe they don’t want that.”
The U.S. president emphasized instead that discussions should focus on security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression. “I think the European nations are going to take a lot of the burden, and we’re going to help them and make it very secure,” Trump said. He also suggested that territorial exchanges would need to be considered in any lasting settlement, according to DW.COM
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, also present at the White House talks, pushed back, stressing the urgency of a ceasefire before Trump’s proposed trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy. “We’d all like to see a ceasefire,” Merz said. “So let’s work on that and put pressure on Russia.”
Trump indicated he would speak with Putin later in the day and hinted at the possibility of a three-way summit if progress is made. Zelenskyy welcomed the prospect, calling it “a good signal” toward peace.
Despite diverging views on a ceasefire, both leaders presented their discussions as productive, with Zelenskyy highlighting U.S. support as vital for Ukraine’s security and Trump expressing optimism about moving toward an agreement that could end the war.
After a series of public statements, a clearer picture is emerging of Europe’s strategy for Monday’s historic meetings in Washington; pressing the United States to provide security guarantees for Ukraine. Nearly every European leader referenced the issue in some form, with several suggesting that President Donald Trump was already leaning toward deeper involvement, according to Reuters.
Many invoked Trump’s own language to reinforce their case. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged action to “stop the killing,” citing Melania Trump’s appeal to consider the suffering of Ukrainian children.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told Trump, “something has changed thanks to you,” while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised him for opening the door to negotiations by meeting Vladimir Putin last week in Alaska.
The combination of flattery and persistence appeared to reflect a coordinated playbook for engaging the U.S. president.
When the joint remarks ended, Trump said discussions would continue in the East Room before moving back to the Oval Office. Reporters shouted questions, but none were answered.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called security guarantees a potential “historic step forward,” adding that a trilateral summit involving Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin would be “a sensible next step.”
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that guarantees were not just about Ukraine but “the security of the entire European continent.” He endorsed Merz’s call for a ceasefire, saying a strong Ukrainian army and long-term commitments would be essential.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pressed for a ceasefire “by the next meeting,” insisting a trilateral summit could not take place without it. He urged Trump to pressure Moscow directly. Trump responded cautiously, noting that the six wars he claims to have helped end did so “without ceasefires.”
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