US President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House on Monday, discussing ways to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. The meeting, which was described as cordial but inconclusive, focused on providing security guarantees for Ukraine if it agrees to a deal to halt the fighting.
Key points from the meeting include:
* The European leaders presented a united front, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany arguing for an immediate cease-fire before further negotiations.
* President Emmanuel Macron of France expressed skepticism about Russia’s intentions, saying “I am not convinced that President Putin also wants peace.”
* US President Trump spoke vaguely about security guarantees for Ukraine, stating only that the European countries and the US would provide protection.
* The EU leaders pressed Trump to commit to a NATO-style Article 5 guarantee, but he declined.
* Trump engaged in shuttle diplomacy with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been portrayed by Trump as genuinely interested in finding a way to end the war.
Despite the lack of concrete agreements, the meeting laid the groundwork for potential future talks between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed interest in acquiring $90 billion worth of US arms, including Patriot air-defense systems, as part of any security guarantees. Trump announced that he would seek to arrange a meeting between Zelensky and Putin in a trilateral session. However, it remains unclear whether all parties are on board with this proposal.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/us/politics/takeaways-trump-zelensky-putin.html