President Donald Trump informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday that the United States would help guarantee Ukraine’s security as part of any future agreement to end the war with Russia. The scope and terms of the proposed assistance have not been clarified.
The announcement came during a summit at the White House, where Trump hosted Zelenskyy alongside European leaders. This meeting occurred two days after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and followed a prior Oval Office encounter months ago in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly criticised Zelenskyy.
While no agreement appears imminent, both Trump and Zelenskyy said they hoped Monday’s summit would lay the groundwork for trilateral discussions with Putin. The Russian government has not publicly accepted the idea of such talks. Russian forces continue to advance gradually in eastern Ukraine, and it remains uncertain whether President Putin is prepared to meet with Zelenskyy or offer any concessions.
European leaders who attended the Washington meeting advocated for a ceasefire before negotiations could move forward. Trump had previously supported this position but changed course following his meeting with Putin on Friday, expressing support for Moscow’s view that a peace agreement should be comprehensive.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he liked the idea of a ceasefire but believed talks could proceed even while the conflict continued.
“I wish they could stop, I’d like them to stop,” he said. “But strategically that could be a disadvantage for one side or the other.”
Later in the day, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron both voiced support for a ceasefire as a precondition to direct talks with Russia.
“I can’t imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire,” said Merz. “So let’s work on that and let’s try to put pressure on Russia.”
Macron added that European involvement would be necessary in future negotiations.
“When we speak about security guarantees, we speak about the whole security of the European continent,” he told Trump.
Trump, who said he believes Putin wants to end the war, stated that he had spoken with the Russian president earlier that day and would follow up with another call after the summit.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Moscow does not consider the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine a viable solution to the conflict.
Tone Shifts from Previous Meeting
This meeting marked a significant change in tone from the pair’s last Oval Office meeting in February, when Trump and Vance publicly upbraided Zelenskyy for what they described as a lack of gratitude. In contrast, Monday’s meeting appeared more cordial, even as Trump has moved closer to Russia’s position in recent days. Zelenskyy expressed thanks at least eight times during his opening remarks.
The Ukrainian leader was joined in Washington by representatives from Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Finland, the European Union, and NATO, who came to demonstrate their support for Ukraine and to advocate for strong post-war security guarantees.
Trump welcomed Zelenskyy outside the White House and commented on his attire, noting the departure from Zelenskyy’s usual military clothing.
When a reporter asked Trump what his message was to the people of Ukraine, he said, “We love them.” Zelenskyy thanked him, and Trump placed a hand on Zelenskyy’s back before the two entered the Oval Office.
After their private meeting, the leaders held broader discussions with their European counterparts.
Zelenskyy described the one-on-one with Trump as “very good” and said they discussed Ukraine’s desire for formal security guarantees.
“This is very important, that the United States gives such a strong signal and is ready for security guarantees,”Zelenskyy said.Trump told reporters:
“When it comes to security, there’s going to be a lot of help,” adding, “They are a first line of defence because they’re there, but we’ll help them out.”
Ongoing Attacks and Diplomatic Manoeuvring
Trump has been advocating for a swift resolution to the conflict, which has become Europe’s deadliest war in eight decades. Ukrainian officials and Western allies have expressed concern that Trump could push for a resolution aligned with Russian interests, especially after Friday’s meeting with Putin, who remains wanted by the International Criminal Court.
On the day of the summit, Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities resulted in at least 10 civilian deaths. Zelenskyy called the attacks a “cynical” effort to undermine diplomatic progress.
Trump dismissed claims that his meeting with Putin had been overly accommodating.
“I know exactly what I’m doing, and I don’t need the advice of people who have been working on all of these conflicts for years, and were never able to do a thing to stop them,” he wrote on social media.
Trump’s team has said that any agreement would involve compromises from both parties. However, the president has publicly stated that Ukraine may need to drop ambitions to reclaim Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, and withdraw its NATO membership bid.
Zelenskyy has rejected the outlines of Russia’s Alaska proposals, which include conceding parts of eastern Donetsk still under Russian control. Ukrainian officials have stated that any agreement to give up territory would need approval via national referendum.
The war has caused more than a million casualties, with thousands of Ukrainian civilians killed and significant infrastructure damage across the country.
Officials in Ukraine said a drone strike in Kharkiv killed seven people, including a toddler and her 16-year-old brother. In Zaporizhzhia, three more people were reported dead following missile strikes. Ukraine’s military also claimed it hit a Russian oil facility in the Tambov region, disrupting operations on the Druzhba pipeline.
