Washington: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his US counterpart Donald Trump on Monday signaled readiness for possible trilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as European leaders gathered at the White House for urgent discussions on ending the prolonged Russia-Ukraine acrimony.
The hastily arranged summit follows Trump’s Friday meeting with Putin in Alaska, where the two discussed potential terms for halting the conflict. Trump has since suggested Ukraine should make concessions, including renouncing NATO membership and accepting the loss of Crimea.
“If everything works out today, we’ll have a trilat,” Trump told reporters, referring to possible three-way talks with Putin and Zelenskyy. “We’re going to work with Russia, we’re going to work with Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy echoed that openness, saying, “We are ready for trilateral as president said. It’s a good signal. I think this is very good.”
European leaders step in
Trump first held one-on-one talks with Zelenskyy before convening a larger session with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
European leaders, excluded from Trump’s Alaska talks with Putin, arrived in Washington determined to safeguard Ukraine’s interests and press for durable security guarantees. “We have to explore all possible solutions to guarantee peace, justice, and security for our countries,” Meloni said.
The group’s coordinated presence was designed to avoid a repeat of Zelenskyy’s tense February Oval Office meeting, when Trump scolded him for insufficient gratitude over US aid.
Clash Over Crimea and NATO
Trump has argued publicly that Ukraine cannot reclaim Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, and should abandon ambitions of joining NATO. On Sunday, he posted: “No getting back Obama-given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!”
Ukraine puts foot down
Zelenskyy countered with his own message, stressing that “peace must be lasting” and not a repeat of the failed post-2014 settlement that allowed Putin to launch a full-scale invasion in 2022.
European officials said Trump briefed them vaguely on his Putin talks, leaving allies frustrated. They confirmed Putin still demands full control of the Donbas region, a nonstarter for Kyiv.
Security Guarantees on the Table
Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, floated the idea of NATO-style security assurances for Ukraine without formal NATO membership. Under the proposal, the US and allies would commit to defending Ukraine if attacked.
European leaders also indicated that a temporary ceasefire is not off the table, though Trump has suggested one is unnecessary for peace negotiations to move forward—a position aligning with Moscow.
An official close to the talks warned the meeting would be especially difficult for Zelenskyy, who faces pressure to avoid being cast as the spoiler if he refuses Putin’s territorial demands.
A Fragile Diplomatic Balancing Act
The talks mark another test in the strained relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy. After being berated by Trump and Vice President JD Vance earlier this year, Zelenskyy sought to rebuild ties through constant diplomacy, including a brief April meeting with Trump at the Vatican.
Still, Trump insists his priority is to end the war quickly—even if that means compromises that worry Kyiv and its allies. Meanwhile, Russia continues escalating attacks. A drone strike on Kharkiv late Sunday killed seven civilians, Ukrainian officials reported.
From Moscow, the Kremlin said Putin also briefed leaders of India, Brazil, South Africa, Central Asia, and Belarus on his Alaska talks with Trump, underscoring the global stakes of the negotiations.