(NewsNation) — Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy convened in Washington, D.C., on Monday alongside a host of European leaders and fresh off Trump’s summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin that failed to secure a ceasefire.
European leaders praised Trump for his efforts toward peace while also emphasizing the need for security guarantees for Ukraine.
As of now, no ceasefire is happening during negotiations, Trump said, saying he believes Putin and Zelenskyy can make a deal.
Speaking to reporters, Zelenskyy said he and Trump spoke about some sensitive points, including security guarantees, during their meeting, striking a positive tone.
“We are happy all the leaders are here; security in Ukraine depends on the United States and those leaders with us,” he said.
Trump and Zelenskyy have Oval Office meeting
In the Oval Office, Trump said progress was being made toward peace. Zelenskyy thanked the president in English, praising his efforts to bring peace. He also said that he would speak to Putin after the meeting.
When asked about U.S. support for Ukraine, Trump said he didn’t think this was the end.
“I can never say that,” Trump said. “I would not say it is the end of the road.”
Trump also spoke about other wars he says he has ended, though foreign leaders have not always agreed with him when it comes to the scope of the role he played. The president has been touting his efforts toward peace as he lobbies for a Nobel Peace Prize.
When asked if he would be open to redrawing borders, Zelenskyy didn’t say what specific hard lines might be.
“So we need to stop this war, stop Russia, and we need support from American, European partners. And we will do our best for this,” he said.
When asked about sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, Trump did not answer directly, instead saying any peace deal would be a long-term one.
“We’re going to work with Russia. We’re going to work with Ukraine. We’re going to make sure it works,” Trump said.
Veering from the topic of Ukraine when asked, Trump doubled down on his efforts to eliminate mail-in voting, claiming it was used for “massive fraud” despite there being no evidence of widespread voting fraud.
Meetings are a key step toward peace
Zelenskyy on Monday said he was in the U.S. capital and ready to speak with Trump, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Zelenskyy has the power to “end the war with Russia almost immediately” if he concedes territory and gives up on entering NATO, Trump said Sunday on social media. Trump’s calls echo those of Russia, which Zelenskyy has vehemently opposed during the 3 1/2-year war.
An end to the war is a goal Zelenskyy has continuously pushed — but not on Russia’s terms.
“We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting. Not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our East — part of Donbas — and Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “Or when Ukraine was given so called ‘security guarantees’ in 1994, but they didn’t work.”
Ukraine-Russia ceasefire deal hinges on territory demands
One of the obstacles for Monday’s meeting will likely be the issue of territory and what Trump has called “land swaps,” though all of the land in question belongs to Ukraine.
Russia is specifically seeking the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up the Donbas, European officials said. Kremlin forces occupy around 75% of the area currently.
“There is an important discussion to be had with regard to Donetsk and what would happen there. And that discussion is going to specifically be detailed on Monday,” said U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who took part in the Alaska summit.
Zelenskyy has consistently rejected Russia’s demands for Ukrainian territory. Russia currently holds roughly 20% of Ukrainian land, including Crimea, so any deal that freezes the lines more or less where they are would benefit Moscow.
The Ukrainian leader on Sunday again called on Russia to end the war, adding that he hopes “our joint strength with America, with our European friends, will force Russia into a real peace.”
NewsNation’s Anna Kutz, Steph Whiteside, The Hill and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
