Donald Trump has said he expects a breakthrough on security guarantees for Ukraine after meeting Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, suggesting an agreement could be reached by the end of the day.
“We will come to a resolution today, I think, on almost everything, including probably the security,” Trump said during remarks in the East Room, where he appeared alongside Zelensky and a group of European leaders.
The discussions mark the most direct US engagement yet in exploring alternatives to NATO membership for Ukraine.
Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, described the proposed guarantees as “Article 5-like protections,” referring to the collective defence clause at the heart of the alliance.
Trump hinted that the talks could also touch on contentious territorial questions. He said negotiations would take into account the “current line of contact” in Ukraine’s war with Russia, raising the possibility of exchanges of territory as part of a peace settlement.
The president struck an optimistic tone, telling Zelensky: “I have a feeling you and President Putin are going to work something out. Ultimately, this is a decision that can only be made by President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine working also together in agreement with President Putin. And I just think that very good things are going to come of it.”
European leaders present at the White House are expected to push Trump to take a harder stance against Moscow, warning that any compromise on Ukraine’s sovereignty could embolden the Kremlin.
For Kyiv, binding security guarantees are seen as essential to deter further aggression. “I’m optimistic that collectively, we can reach an agreement that would deter any future aggression against Ukraine,” Trump said. “And I actually think there won’t be.”
The White House talks are continuing into the evening.
