When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walks into the Oval Office today, it will be under very different circumstances from his last visit. Six months ago, his meeting with US President Donald Trump ended in acrimony: an awkward public dressing-down by Trump and Vice President JD Vance, a cut-short luncheon, and a walkout that left US–Ukraine ties badly bruised.
This time, the stage is set for a more careful, choreographed encounter. European leaders, from Britain’s Keir Starmer to France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, will join Zelensky in Washington. Their presence is designed to ensure calm, signal collective backing for Kyiv, and prevent a repeat of February’s debacle.
Trump said late Sunday that Zelensky could choose to end the war with Russia "almost immediately," but retaking Russian-occupied Crimea or joining NATO are off the table.
"President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on the eve of the White House meeting with the Ukrainian president and European leaders.
"No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!" he added.
The last encounter: A diplomatic meltdown
The February meeting was one of the most bruising moments in Kyiv–Washington relations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Trump accused Zelensky of being “ungrateful” for US aid, snapped at him for warning that America could one day “feel” Russia’s aggression, and even cut him off on live television. Vice President Vance pressed him to simply say “thank you.”
The fallout was immediate. Zelensky left without finalising a minerals deal, which was a key aim of his trip, and the US temporarily froze military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. European capitals worried aloud that Trump might cut off Kyiv altogether.
What has changed since then
Yet politics has a way of reshuffling the deck. In the months that followed, Trump began losing patience with Vladimir Putin, who stalled on ceasefire talks despite marathon diplomacy by US envoy Steve Witkoff.
By April, Trump and Zelensky had repaired their channel — first in the Vatican, then at NATO’s Hague summit in June. Trump signed off on the long-delayed minerals deal and, more recently, has floated the idea of US security guarantees for Ukraine.
Even after the high-profile Alaska summit with Putin, where Trump offered Putin warmth but came away without a ceasefire, Washington hinted at giving Ukraine “robust security guarantees.” This would be outside NATO’s framework, but for Kyiv it is still a historic opening.
Crucially, the atmosphere around Zelensky’s return is far less toxic. He has taken European advice to heart: adopting a more diplomatic, gratitude-heavy posture toward Trump, who in turn has shown more flexibility than during their bruising February clash.
What to expect today
The talks will happen in two parts. First, Trump and Zelensky will meet one-on-one. This will be the most sensitive stage, given their tense history.
After that, a larger meeting will include European leaders such as Macron, Starmer, Merz, Meloni, von der Leyen, and NATO chief Mark Rutte. This broader session is aimed at finding common ground for possible peace talks.
The main topics on the table are:
- Security guarantees: What kind of US commitments Ukraine can expect, and how strong they would be.
- Territorial concessions: Putin still wants recognition of Russian control over Donetsk and Luhansk, but Kyiv firmly rejects this.
- Sequencing: Trump now favors a “peace deal first, ceasefire later” plan. Europe and Ukraine oppose this, arguing talks cannot move forward while the war continues.
Overall, the meeting will test whether Trump can push for a quick deal or whether Europe and Ukraine’s focus on justice and battlefield realities will hold the line.
What it means for India
For India, the outcome of the meeting carries significance on several fronts. A durable peace in Ukraine, or even credible security guarantees, would help reduce volatility in global energy markets. This is important for New Delhi, given that India has become one of the largest buyers of Russian crude. Less uncertainty translates into smoother and more affordable access to energy supplies.
Diplomatically, the Alaska summit made clear that while Trump is keen on building ties with Putin, his willingness to grant Moscow major concessions is limited. For India, this dynamic creates space to engage both Washington and Moscow without being pushed into rigid alignments or forced choices.
On the economic front, the US–Ukraine minerals deal signed earlier this year signals Washington’s push to diversify supply chains away from China. As the US and Europe look for secure alternatives, India has an opening to position itself as a partner in critical minerals processing and related technology cooperation.
Finally, with European leaders standing firmly alongside Washington, India’s voice as a reliable partner in the Global South gains added weight. Any easing of the Ukraine conflict, even partial, would allow India to devote more attention to its primary strategic arena in the Indo-Pacific, without being distracted by a worsening war in Europe.
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