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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump expressed cautious optimism on Monday about potential future negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The two leaders met in the Oval Office ahead of high-level discussions with European allies, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. The talks come at a crucial moment as fighting continues in Ukraine and diplomatic pressure mounts on all sides.
A Push for Trilateral Talks
President Trump suggested that Moscow may also be open to solutions, though he acknowledged that progress is far from guaranteed.
“I think President Putin wants to find an answer, too,” Trump said during the Oval Office meeting. “And we’ll see in a certain period of time, not very far from now, a week or two weeks, we’re going to know whether or not we’re going to solve this or is this horrible fighting going to continue.”
Trump confirmed that he would support European-backed security guarantees for Ukraine, a move welcomed by Zelenskyy but viewed with caution by European partners wary of Russia’s long-term intentions.
Fallout From the Alaska Summit
The Washington meeting follows Trump’s private summit with Putin in Alaska last Friday. That encounter failed to produce any concrete deal on a ceasefire, raising concerns among European allies who were notably excluded from the discussions.
Trump later remarked that the responsibility now rests with Zelenskyy to consider possible territorial concessions, arguing that such a step could bring the war to an end. Currently, Russia occupies around 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory, a point of deep contention between Kyiv and Moscow.
Europe’s Stakes in the Conflict
European leaders arrived in Washington determined to assert their role in shaping any future peace arrangement. Excluded from the Alaska talks, they view direct involvement as essential to safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty and preventing further instability on the continent.
“This is about more than Ukraine,” one European diplomat said on condition of anonymity. “This is about the future of European security and ensuring that aggression does not spread unchecked.”
The gathering was described as an unusual show of diplomatic solidarity, with leaders eager to emphasize that any settlement must reflect both Ukraine’s interests and Europe’s broader security concerns.
Trump said he intends to speak with Putin again after completing talks in Washington with Zelenskyy and European counterparts. While no immediate breakthrough is expected, officials believe the meetings could set the stage for more structured negotiations in the weeks ahead.
For Zelenskyy, the challenge remains balancing pressure from Washington with the unwavering resolve of Ukrainians who oppose territorial concessions. For Trump, the stakes are equally high as he positions himself as a potential broker in one of the world’s most volatile conflicts.
As the discussions continue, the world will be watching to see whether these diplomatic maneuvers pave the way toward peace or signal more uncertainty ahead.
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