Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will travel to Washington on Monday for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, following a series of calls Trump held with NATO and European leaders after his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
The much-anticipated Trump-Putin meeting ended without agreement on halting or resolving Russia’s war in Ukraine, though both leaders described their discussions as “productive.” On his return flight to Washington, Trump spoke at length with Zelenskyy, followed by a joint call with U.S. allies, the White House said.
Zelenskyy described his over 90-minute conversation with Trump as “long and substantive,” adding that he welcomed the U.S. president’s proposal for a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia. “Ukraine emphasizes that key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this,” Zelenskyy said on X. He added that security guarantees for Kyiv were also discussed, calling them essential to deter future Russian aggression.
According to a report by Axios journalist Barak Ravid, citing an unnamed source, Trump told Zelenskyy and European leaders that Putin was not interested in a ceasefire but in a “comprehensive agreement” to end the war. “I think a fast peace deal is better than a ceasefire,” Trump was quoted as saying. Reuters said it could not immediately verify the report.
The call included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as leaders from Germany, Finland, Poland, Italy, and Britain. Trump reportedly briefed them on his discussions with Putin and reiterated U.S. commitment to coordinating closely with allies.
Zelenskyy’s Washington visit on Monday is expected to focus on charting a path toward negotiations, with Kyiv hoping the U.S. can play a central role in pushing Moscow toward a settlement.
Written By Rodney Mbua
