Trump, Zelenskyy and Europe Seek Fragile Path to Peace
At the White House this week, a high-stakes meeting unfolded that brought together Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and seven European leaders in an effort to push the stalled Ukraine peace process forward. The atmosphere was tense, especially given that Zelenskyy’s last visit to Washington in February ended in what many described as a disastrous encounter. But this time, the Ukrainian president did not arrive alone — he came backed by Europe’s most powerful figures, all determined to influence Trump’s approach.
Much of the nervousness stemmed from Trump’s recent summit in Alaska with Vladimir Putin. That meeting ended abruptly, without a ceasefire, and raised fears when Trump began openly discussing possible “land swaps” between Russia and Ukraine. With those concerns hanging in the air, leaders from Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Finland, NATO, and the European Union joined Trump and Zelenskyy in Washington for several rounds of intense talks.
During the session, Trump confirmed he would call Putin immediately afterward, which he did. He later announced that arrangements were being made for Zelenskyy and Putin to meet face-to-face, followed by a trilateral with Trump himself. European leaders welcomed the prospect but expressed doubts. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb reminded everyone that Putin had a habit of moving the goalposts, while France’s Emmanuel Macron voiced “great doubt” that Putin truly intended to stop the war.
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The thorniest issue was territory. Trump had repeatedly raised the idea of Ukraine ceding land for peace, but Zelenskyy remained firm. He stressed that any territorial discussions must happen directly between Kyiv and Moscow, not under pressure in Washington. Macron underlined that land swaps were not discussed with European leaders at all, insisting the immediate focus should be on security guarantees.
On that point, progress was made. Trump said the United States, in coordination with Europe and what British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called a “coalition of the willing,” would provide Ukraine with firm security guarantees. That could include a sweeping $90 billion package of weapons, air defense systems, and possibly even NATO-style protections. Zelenskyy confirmed that the commitments would be put on paper within ten days.
There were also human dimensions to the talks. Zelenskyy delivered a letter from his wife, Olena, to Melania Trump, raising the plight of thousands of Ukrainian children taken to Russia. The issue struck a chord with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who insisted their return must be a top priority in negotiations.
The day ended far more amicably than Zelenskyy’s last Washington visit. In a friendlier Oval Office press event, both leaders exchanged thanks, and even shared light-hearted jokes. Zelenskyy wore a black suit — a sharp contrast from his usual wartime fatigues — a gesture that did not go unnoticed.
While no final breakthrough was achieved, the talks marked a shift. A path has been sketched: bilateral talks between Kyiv and Moscow, followed by trilateral discussions with Trump, and new Western security guarantees being drafted. Whether Putin will accept remains uncertain, but for now, a fragile sense of momentum has been created.
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