United States President Donald Trump described his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as successful, beaming with smiles, he said, “everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine,” and announced that arrangements are underway for a potential meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine.
The announcement came after a meeting at the White House, where Trump discussed security guarantees for Ukraine with European leaders, including President Emmanuel Macron of France, President Alexander Stubb of Finland, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
According to Trump, the meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy would be a crucial step towards achieving peace in the region. “At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” Trump stated.
A trilateral meeting between the two presidents and Trump would follow, aiming to bring a lasting resolution to the conflict.
The talks come amid concerns over US security priorities and the potential exclusion of European allies from the negotiations.
European leaders have emphasized the importance of their involvement in the peace process, with Finnish President Alexander Stubb strongly rejecting the idea of excluding Europeans from discussions about Ukraine’s future.
“There’s no way in which we can have discussions about Ukraine, Ukraine’s future, or European security without Europeans,” Stubb said.
The issue of security guarantees for Ukraine was a key topic of discussion during the White House meeting.
Zelenskyy emphasized that any agreement needed to include real security assurances for Ukraine, while Trump suggested that European countries would be expected to carry the burden of providing security guarantees.
“They are a first line of defence because they’re there. But we’ll help them out,” Trump said.
European leaders have pledged their support for Ukraine, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterating his country’s commitment to finding a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed her support for Ukraine, stating, “your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President.”
The potential meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy is seen as a crucial step towards achieving peace in the region.
However, concerns remain over the exclusion of European allies from the negotiations and the potential implications for European security.
As the situation continues to unfold, European leaders are set to gather for further discussions on Ukraine and security, with a major summit scheduled to take place in London.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine, as part of the US efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The international community will be watching closely to see how the proposed meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy will unfold and what the outcome might be.