US President Donald Trump held a hastily arranged meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, seeking to negotiate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The talks were rare at the White House and reflected the urgency of aligning with Trump on ending the conflict.
The US role in security guarantees for Ukraine was central to Monday’s discussions. European leaders and Zelensky sought assurance that the US would commit resources to maintaining peace once a potential peace deal is reached. Trump hinted at allowing American troops to participate, which could ease agreements from Zelensky on other aspects of a proposed deal.
Trump also reaffirmed his goal of getting Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin into the same room for negotiations, although specifics are unclear. European officials expressed concerns about being sidelined in the process. French President Emmanuel Macron suggested a quadrilateral meeting to discuss security guarantees, but Trump did not commit to this idea.
A notable shift occurred in Trump’s stance on an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, as he stated that it was “not happening” at present. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Trump to reconsider. The atmosphere during Zelensky’s meeting with Trump was more collaborative than the previous February encounter.
The emergency talks represent a significant development in efforts to bring an end to the war.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/18/politics/takeaways-trump-zelensky-european-leader-meetings