Five takeaways from Trump’s White House meeting with Zelensky and European leaders

Donald Trump with Zelensky

US President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders at the White House in a push to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. The gathering projected a relatively united front, though differences surfaced. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pressed for a cease-fire before talks, while French President Emmanuel Macron voiced scepticism over Vladimir Putin’s intentions. Still, all sides agreed to pursue direct talks between Zelensky and Putin, the New York Times reported.

Security guarantees remain vague

The central topic was security guarantees for Ukraine, but Trump spoke in broad terms. He promised “very good protection” but did not clarify whether US troops would be part of any plan. European leaders pushed for guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5, under which an attack on one is treated as an attack on all. Zelensky, for his part, said he wanted “everything” in terms of protection.

Trump’s outreach to Putin

During the meeting, Trump briefly stepped out to call the Russian leader directly. He later described Putin as open to finding a way to end the war, presenting him more as a partner than an adversary. After the call, Trump invited Zelensky and European leaders to the Oval Office, where he relayed details of his discussion. European leaders noted the outreach but remained cautious about Putin’s sincerity.

Plans for a Putin-Zelensky meeting

Trump announced efforts to set up a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, possibly followed by a trilateral session including himself. Moscow confirmed the phone call but stopped short of committing Putin to direct talks. Russian officials suggested senior negotiators would continue discussions, while leaving open the possibility of a future summit. For Zelensky, the uncertainty underscored the difficulty of negotiating with a leader who questions his legitimacy.

Ukraine’s arms deal proposal

Zelensky signalled Ukraine’s readiness to strengthen its defence through American weapons. He said Kyiv would seek to buy $90 billion worth of US arms, including Patriot air-defence systems, and that Washington might buy drones from Ukraine. While a final agreement has not been signed, such a deal would be a major step in ensuring Ukraine can sustain its defences against Russian attacks while peace negotiations continue.