Trump and Zelenskyy to hold key talks in Washington

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Trump in Washington on 18 August, joined by European leaders to discuss the conflict and peace efforts.

The agenda focused on long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, possible frameworks for a ceasefire, and the status of contested territories such as Crimea and the Donbas region. Broader regional stability, Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, and reconstruction planning were also part of the discussion.

The meeting followed Trump’s recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and comes amid renewed Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. While no formal agreement was expected, the talks were viewed as a critical moment to align views among key allies and explore potential diplomatic paths forward.

European leaders attend Washington summit

The meeting includes top figures such as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German President Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Zelenskyy meets Trump’s envoy ahead of summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Washington meeting with Trump’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg, ahead of upcoming discussions with the U.S. president and European leaders.

After meeting with Kellogg, Zelenskyy said Russia can only be forced into peace through strength and added that Ukraine is ready to work productively for peace.

EU to hold video conference on Ukraine talks

European Council President Antonio Costa said on Monday that he would convene a video conference for European Council members on Tuesday afternoon to debrief about this week's meetings in Washington on Ukraine.

"The EU, together with the US, will continue working towards a lasting peace that safeguards Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests," Costa wrote on social media platform X. The conference will take place at11:00 GMT.

Meeting schedule at the White House

According to the schedule (all times in GMT), European leaders are expected to arrive at the White House at 16:00. President Trump will greet President Zelenskyy at 17:00, followed by a bilateral meeting between the two leaders at 17:15. At 18:15, President Trump will welcome the European leaders. A family photo is planned for 18:30, and a multilateral meeting with the European leaders and President Trump is set to begin at 19:00.

European leaders begin arriving at White House ahead of Trump-Zelenskyy meeting

European leaders have begun arriving at the White House ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The first to arrive were NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, German President Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Zelenskyy: Ukraine ready to establish new security architecture

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is seeking a "reliable and lasting peace" in its war with Russia and is ready to establish "a new security architecture."
"Our main goal is a reliable and lasting peace for Ukraine and for the whole of Europe. And it is important that the momentum of all our meetings lead to precisely this result," Zelenskyy wrote on X ahead of his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.
"Ukraine is ready for a real truce and for establishing a new security architecture. We need peace," he added.

Key European Officials Arrive for High-Stakes Meeting with Trump and Zelenskyy

President Donald Trump expressed it was an honour to have Ukrainian President Zelenskyy with him, highlighting the progress made in their discussions. Trump also suggested there’s a possibility of fruitful outcomes from a meeting with Russian President Putin, adding that if all goes well, a trilateral meeting could follow. However, he stopped short of calling it the end of the road, stating he believes Putin wants the conflict to end. Zelenskyy thanked Trump for his efforts in supporting Ukraine.

President Donald Trump expressed confidence on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin desires an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine. His remarks came ahead of a high-profile bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. Trump assured that significant support would be provided for Ukraine’s security, emphasizing his commitment to collaborating with both Russia and Ukraine to ensure peace is maintained. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine's readiness for trilateral engagement, stressing the urgent need to bring an end to the war.

Zelenskyy signals readiness for elections, Trump hints at alternative peace path

During a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed openness to holding elections in Ukraine once it is safe, noting that elections cannot be held during the war. He emphasized the importance of ensuring a democratic, open, and legal process. Currently, elections are suspended under martial law. Zelenskyy also stated that Ukraine needs comprehensive security guarantees for a peaceful future.

Meanwhile, Trump suggested that the U.S. could negotiate an end to the crisis without a ceasefire, indicating a possible path forward while fighting continues. Trump added that he had spoken indirectly with Russian President Putin and planned to have a direct call with him following the meeting. Additionally, Trump announced an executive order being written to address mail-in ballots, stating that he intends to eliminate them and wants changes made to voting machines.

Trump-Zelenskyy talks with European leaders begin at the White House

U.S. President Donald Trump described the day’s meetings as “very successful,” stating that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “covered a lot of territory” in their discussions. Trump reiterated his intention to call Russian President Vladimir Putin following the summit and raised the possibility of organising a trilateral meeting involving the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia.

He said the ultimate aim is to “stop the killing” and bring the conflict to an end, suggesting that a peace agreement is “very attainable” and could happen in the near future. Trump noted that while an immediate ceasefire would be ideal, a resolution could still be pursued while fighting continues.

During his remarks, Trump also said that President Putin had expressed openness to accepting security guarantees for Ukraine during their prior communications, and that this would be a key point in further talks. He acknowledged the complexity of the conflict and stressed that any final agreement must be decided by Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people in coordination with Russia.

Trump praised the attending European leaders and said he believed they were prepared to shoulder a significant part of the security burden moving forward. He concluded by expressing optimism that a resolution on core issues, including security arrangements, could be reached during the ongoing discussions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump was productive and covered sensitive issues, particularly security guarantees for Ukraine. He welcomed the presence of European leaders at the White House and emphasised that Ukraine’s security depends on the support of the United States and its allies.

Zelenskyy stressed the importance of reaching a lasting peace and ending the war, stating that “all of us want to finish this war” and stop the suffering. He also raised humanitarian concerns, specifically the exchange of prisoners and the return of abducted Ukrainian children. Zelenskyy thanked Trump and his wife for their attention to the issue and expressed hope for concrete outcomes.

He said that territorial matters and other sensitive topics would be addressed at the level of leaders in a potential trilateral meeting, and added that Ukraine would welcome Trump’s personal participation.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised U.S. President Donald Trump for what he described as a breakthrough in moving the diplomatic process forward. Rutte said the United States “broke the deadlock” and credited Trump’s earlier dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin as a key turning point.

He emphasised the urgency of ending the conflict, stating, “We have to stop the killing. We have to stop the destruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure.” Rutte also welcomed Trump’s willingness to participate in future security guarantees for Ukraine, calling it a significant and meaningful step.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the meeting as a crucial moment and emphasised that Europeans are present in Washington as “friends and allies.” She highlighted recent progress, including a major trade agreement and a strong NATO summit, and stressed the shared goal of achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

Von der Leyen welcomed discussions on security guarantees, referencing Article 5-style protections as essential for Ukraine’s future. She also called attention to the plight of abducted Ukrainian children, saying every child must be returned to their family. “This should be one of our main priorities,” she said, noting the issue’s importance as both a leader and a grandmother.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the meeting was a helpful step forward. He noted that while the current momentum is encouraging, the next phase will involve more complicated negotiations.

Merz emphasised the importance of achieving a ceasefire before further talks proceed. “I can’t imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire,” he said, calling for increased pressure on Russia. He added that the credibility of current diplomatic efforts depends on securing a ceasefire before any trilateral negotiations begin.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for hosting the meeting and described it as an important moment. She noted that, after more than three years without any indication of dialogue from Russia, something appears to be changing. Meloni credited the shift to both Ukrainian resistance on the battlefield and unity among Ukraine’s allies.

She reaffirmed Italy’s full support for Ukraine and Trump’s peace efforts, stressing the need for unity in pursuing both peace and justice. Meloni highlighted the importance of security guarantees as a foundation for any peace agreement, referencing the Article 5-style proposal that she said originated with Italy. “It’s something we have to build together,” she said.

French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed Europe’s collective commitment to peace. He said everyone present supports a robust and lasting peace for Ukraine and that the proposed trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. is “the only way to fix it.”

Macron also suggested a possible quadrilateral format in the future, noting that security guarantees for Ukraine are directly tied to the security of the entire European continent. He supported the idea of a truce or pause in fighting to stop the killings and said long-term peace will require both a credible Ukrainian army and firm commitments from Ukraine’s partners.

He emphasised that European nations understand their responsibilities and are ready to contribute to a security framework that benefits both Ukraine and Europe. “You can count on us,” Macron said.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the war in Ukraine has had a profound impact not only on Ukrainians but also across Europe and the United Kingdom, stressing that the security of Ukraine is inseparable from the security of the wider region. He described the current meeting as a vital opportunity to make meaningful progress.

Starmer voiced strong support for President Trump’s proposal on security guarantees, saying the suggested Article 5-style commitments align with efforts already underway through the coalition of the willing. He noted that with U.S. involvement, a major step forward on Ukrainian and European security could be achieved.

He also backed the idea of a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, calling it a sensible next step. “A historic step could come out of this meeting,” Starmer said, adding that no one has brought the conflict to this point until now.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said that more progress had been made in the past two weeks toward ending the conflict in Ukraine than in the previous three and a half years. He described the meeting as symbolising unity between the United States, Europe, and Ukraine, with a focus on advancing security guarantees and preparing for a trilateral meeting with Russia.

Stubb addressed questions about Finland’s role, highlighting the country’s 800-mile border with Russia and its historical experience during World War II. Drawing on that history, he said Finland found a solution in 1944 and expressed confidence that a solution could also be found in 2025. “The situation is very difficult, but that’s why we’re here,” he said.

White House meeting ends as Ukraine pledges arms deal, Trump calls Putin

American media confirms that the meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump, and senior European leaders has concluded at the White House.

According to the Financial Times, Ukraine has pledged to purchase $100 billion worth of U.S. weapons, funded by European partners, along with a $50 billion drone deal. These commitments are reportedly tied to Trump’s proposed security guarantees, which would come into effect once a peace agreement with Russia is reached.

The report also notes that Ukraine remains firmly opposed to any deal involving territorial concessions to Russia and insists that a ceasefire must be the first step toward a comprehensive peace agreement.

Axios reports that President Trump took a break from the White House meeting to call Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump expressed optimism about the prospect of a trilateral summit and a potential peace deal.

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