President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House again on Monday to engage with US President Donald Trump in new discussions focused on concluding the conflict in Ukraine.
Multiple European leaders also rearranged their schedules to fly to Washington for the meeting, just days after Trump had a summit with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Alaska that did not lead to a ceasefire.
Despite Trump’s positive statements and some tepid evaluations from his European allies, by Monday evening, there were no substantial commitments to security assurances or specific actions toward a peace agreement.
Below are the main points from the discussions
Is a meeting between Putin and Zelensky possible?
A key goal of Trump’s that he frequently highlights is to arrange a trilateral meeting involving Zelensky and Putin.
Before his discussions with European leaders on Monday, he stated that it was now a question of "when, not if" such a meeting would occur.
After the summit, Trump stated he had contacted Putin to start "organizing" discussions between the Russian leader and Zelensky.
Trump stated that after a meeting between Putin and Zelensky, at a yet-to-be-decided location, there would be a trilateral discussion in which the US president would participate alongside the two.
An adviser to Putin stated afterward that Trump and Putin had a 40-minute phone conversation on Monday.
Before European leaders met with Trump in the East Room of the White House, a hot mic captured comments exchanged between the US leader and French President Emmanuel Macron.
"I believe he is interested in striking a deal." I believe he intends to propose a deal for me. Do you comprehend that? "That may sound crazy," Trump said to Macron, seemingly alluding to Putin.
It is still uncertain how easy it will be to get these two deeply opposed adversaries to meet at the negotiating table for the first time since Russia's major invasion commenced in February 2022.
For months, Zelensky has been urging a meeting with Putin, though there are no signs that the Ukrainian leader believes such a discussion would lead to a resolution of the conflict.
Rather, this was probably a means of reinforcing his assertion that Russia is not genuinely committed to seeking peace, as he believed that Putin had no desire to consent to a meeting of this nature.
The Russian president has stated before that he considers Zelensky to be "illegitimate" since no elections have occurred in Ukraine since the war began under martial law.
The Kremlin has consistently rejected the notion of a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky.
Fifteen days ago, Moscow claimed that there was no need for the Russian and Ukrainian leaders to meet until "the suitable distance" in their positions was "bridged".
In a vague statement released by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov on Monday night, Moscow indicated it considered it "worthwhile" to "examine the possibility of increasing the level of representatives" from the Russian and Ukrainian delegations involved in negotiations.
It is important to highlight that the Kremlin's wording is significantly less clear than Trump's and does not imply that Putin himself might be getting ready for a bilateral meeting with Zelensky, unlike Trump's apparent eagerness to unite them.
Even if such a meeting were to occur, there remains the issue of what it could accomplish, given the significant differences between the Russian and Ukrainian demands for resolving the conflict.t
Europeans resist as Trump retreats from the ceasefire.
In his statements with the European leaders on Monday, Trump appeared to downplay the necessity of a ceasefire before any negotiations aimed at ending the war.
Historically, this has been a crucial request from Ukraine, which has stated that it views a cessation of hostilities as essential for continuing negotiations with Russia and, ultimately, for achieving a lasting resolution.
A ceasefire might be somewhat simpler to establish than a comprehensive peace agreement, which would require extensive negotiations lasting several months, during which Russia's attack on Ukraine would likely persist.
On Monday, Trump mentioned that the six conflicts he asserts to have helped resolve since January - including those between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Thailand-Cambodia, and India-Pakistan - concluded without any official ceasefire established beforehand.
"I’m not sure it’s needed," he remarked.
European leaders seemed to resist this proposal, with the most forceful objection coming from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
"I find it hard to believe that the upcoming meeting will occur without a ceasefire," Merz stated. "Therefore, let’s focus on that and attempt to exert pressure on Russia."
Currently, it is uncertain if the Kyiv government firmly believes that a ceasefire is essential for substantive discussions with Moscow.
When prompted to address the audience, Zelensky did not reiterate his earlier requests for a ceasefire to be established.
Trump suggests potential security assurances.
One of the inquiries directed at Zelensky involved what he would require from the US to ensure his nation's security. Were they soldiers, information, or resources?
In a moment that expressed the urgency he appeared to hold back during the press conference, Zelensky leaned in his chair and stated emphatically, "Everything."
"We require a robust Ukrainian military," he remarked. "It's about arms, individuals, training operations, and information gathering."
Trump did not provide US soldiers on the ground.
However, when reporters inquired if US security assurances for Ukraine might involve any American troops in the nation, Trump did not dismiss the possibility.
He stated that Europe was the "front line of defense," but added that "we'll be participating."
"We will provide them with strong protection," the president stated at one moment.
This is the most resolute Trump has ever been on the topic of security guarantees, which are typically regarded as essential for any agreement with Russia.
On Monday, the US president stated that at last week's Alaska summit, Putin had agreed there would be security guarantees for Ukraine included in any peace agreement.
However, the insufficient information regarding the specifics of these guarantees raises concerns for both Kyiv and Europe, and privately, leaders will certainly attempt to convey to Trump that the US deterrent must extend beyond mere symbolism.
An ongoing supply of arms to Ukraine would be appreciated; a commitment of American troops on the ground would be even more significant.
Achieving such a level of commitment from Trump may be challenging at this point.
Positioning US forces in Ukraine would entail the possibility of a direct clash with Russia.
It would also represent a significant direct action by a president who has taken pride in his capacity to extricate the US from international conflict.s
Zelensky initiates a charm campaign.
Considering his bitter previous visit to the Oval Office in February, the Ukrainian president made significant efforts to be friendly and engage his American counterparts - featuring a series of six "thank yous" in the initial moments of the discussion.
During his most recent visit to the White House, Zelensky was reprimanded by Vice PresidentVance for what appeared to be a lack of appreciation for the United States' assistance for Ukraine amid the conflict.
Another topic of disagreement during February's meeting - Zelensky's clothing - was also discussed.
On this occasion, Zelensky wore a dark suit instead of his usual military attire, seeming well-prepared with a joke when the same reporter, who had earlier criticized him for not donning a suit during his last Oval Office visit, inquired about his appearance.
When the reporter complimented him by saying he looked "fabulous," Zelensky responded by pointing out that the journalist was in the "same suit" as before, which made the reporters, Trump, and other officials laugh.
"Like you can see, I've transformed," he mentioned
Zelensky aimed to establish a familial bond during the meeting by giving his host a letter from Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska for US First Lady Melania Trump.
"It's not for you - [it's] for your wife," he said to Trump.
Other European leaders also chose to increase their flattery towards Trump before their multilateral meeting, showering him with compliments for his efforts in getting them together.
"I truly appreciate your leadership," remarked NATO chief Mark Rutte.
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni noted that although there were no indications of Russia aiming for peace before, "something had changed" due to Trump.
Despite the warm tones, the Europeans worked diligently to express that they also feel vulnerable to potential future Russian aggression.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed to other leaders with gravity: "Discussing security guarantees also involves addressing the security of the European continent."
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