Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced he will meet with President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday. This news comes on the heels of a Russia-U.S. summit that ended without a conclusive agreement to cease the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, a conflict that has persisted for over three and a half years.
After a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump has made a turnabout, expressing that the war’s resolution lies in a comprehensive peace treaty rather than a mere ceasefire. This sentiment mirrors Putin’s stance, emphasizing a long-term resolution that addresses Moscow’s interests over a temporary truce.
Following early Saturday discussions with Zelenskyy and several European leaders, Trump made public his view via Truth Social: “The best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often do not hold up.”
Ahead of these developments, both Trump and Ukraine’s European allies had been advocating for a ceasefire as a preliminary step to negotiations. Zelenskyy, however, was uninvited to the summit in Alaska, and his first U.S. visit since a dispute with Trump in February awaits on Monday.
The meeting between Trump and Putin on Friday, Putin’s first U.S. visit in a decade, and since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine commenced, concluded with little clarity regarding the discussion specifics. Trump had previously warned of “very severe consequences” for Russia if Putin did not agree to end the war.
Amid these proceedings, Zelenskyy has emphasized the necessity of European leaders’ involvement. “It is important that Europeans are involved at every stage to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America,” he stated. Despite not providing further details, Zelenskyy’s assertions seem to reflect previous suggestions of a foreign troop presence in Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression, a proposal reportedly suspended by European partners due to a lack of American support.
Following the summit, European leaders expressed their readiness to work with Trump and Zelenskyy towards “a trilateral summit with European support.” They emphasized Ukraine’s right to determine its territorial decisions and rejected the forceful alteration of international borders. However, they abstained from mentioning the ceasefire they had hoped to establish before the summit.
As the situation continues to evolve, reports indicate that Russian forces are escalating their gains along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. As such, the significance of this should not be overlooked. The need for a resolution continues to be of paramount importance, with hopes pinned on the upcoming meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump.
