Trump, Zelensky i Ukraine peace, potential for Putin Summit
President Donald Trump said there was a “rational opportunity” to end the war in Ukraine after talks with President Voldymee Zelensky.
Their meeting began with an expression of gratitude. Handshakes and laughs. It was always heartfelt.
When Ukrainian leaders faced tyrades in words from President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, it felt significantly different in the oval office. He eventually left the White House.
In tone and entity, Zelensky’s second meeting with Trump on August 18 would not have been different from the first.
Trump did not rule out sending our troops to Ukraine to help with post-war peacekeeping efforts, but he did not commit to it. He also did not issue an ultimatum to Zelenskyy.
Asked by a reporter whether failing to reach the peace agreement means “the end of the road” in search of Ukraine’s help, Trump replied: “I will never say that, it will never be the end of the road.”
Trump’s commitment to Ukraine was suspected after rolling out a red carpet for Alaska’s Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15th. After the summit, he repeated the Russian points in peace negotiations.
Trump retreated from his threat to impose “serious consequences” on Putin if he disagrees with a ceasefire. He said there is no need for a ceasefire to gain a clashing attitude with the positions held by Europe and Ukraine. He told Zelenskyy that he had to admit Crimea.
But Trump was a measured tone of Zelensky and willing to entertain his important involvement in postwar security arrangements after his Chammy Summit with Ukrainian encouraging supporters Putin.
His declaration, coming out of the Alaska Summit, encouraged panicked European leaders to hurry to Washington, D.C. and join Zelensky for a meeting with Trump. The result was a very rare gathering at the White House.
High European officials sat around tables in the East Room, trying to save a more favorable outcome for Ukraine in the three-year war.
“The fact that you said I was willing to participate in security assurances is a big step,” NATO Executive Director Mark Latte said at a leader’s meeting. “It’s really a breakthrough and makes all the difference.”
Trump entertains Ukraine’s security guarantees
Zelensky argued that the peace agreement must come with a security guarantee and called it a “significant change” when Trump special mission Steve Witkov said over the weekend that the US had secured its commitment from Russia and allowed the US to provide protection to Ukraine.
Witkov said the administration is considering a security arrangement similar to NATO Article 5.
Trump suggested that America could contribute the military to a coalition where European countries are at the forefront. “We’re involved,” he said.
European countries will be “the front line of defense,” he said of the potential arrangement. “We’ll help them too.”
Zelenskyy said US support is needed to support Ukrainian military, weapons and intelligence as part of a key security assurance in the peace agreement with Russia.
“All of this,” Zelenskyy said of the security assistance needed from the US to make the transaction.
Taking the weight, Trump did not promise to provide Ukraine with “NATO-like” protection. He pointed to Europe again.
“We’ll help them,” Trump said. “I think that’s very important.”
“I don’t think there’s a need for a ceasefire,” Trump says.
Trump has stepped away from suspending the conflict during negotiations while we were involved in the security of postwar Ukraine – much to visit Europeans.
Before his meeting with Putin on August 15, Trump said he wanted a ceasefire and that there would be “severe consequences” if Russian leaders do not agree.
But in a weekend social media post, Trump said he should go straight to the peace deal.
“I don’t think there’s a need for a ceasefire,” Trump told Zelensky in his oval office.
Trump said he liked the idea of a ceasefire to stop the killings, but said that a peace deal could be negotiated while the fight continues. He said he understands why “strategically” a ceasefire could “be at a disadvantage for either side.”
“There’s a ceasefire, they’re rebuilding, they’re rebuilding, they’re rebuilding, they’re rebuilding,” he said. “And you know, maybe they don’t want that.”
The ending ceasefire could benefit Putin, who attempted to strengthen his attacks on Ukraine, impose military advantages, and undermine the country’s negotiating position, prompting a strong push back from French and German leaders at the expanded conference.
German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz said the “reliability” of peace negotiations depends on a ceasefire.
“So let’s work on that and try to put pressure on Russia,” Meltz said.
France’s Emmanuel Macron, who sat stonework throughout the meeting, told Trump that a ceasefire was “necessity.”
Trump continues to push Zelensky in exchange for territory‘
On the eve of the meeting, Trump declared on social media that Ukraine could not reclaim Crimea, a territory seized in 2014 as part of the peace agreement. He also said his NATO membership is off the table.
Trump has recently been pushing Zelensky by giving away his land. The Ukrainians resisted what Putin wanted.
Protecting Crimea to Russia is something Trump has suggested in the past. However, it was noteworthy that he publicly outlined a concession that he wanted Ukraine to make the eve of a meeting with Zelensky.
He said it would be up to General Zelenki to end the war after weeks of focus on Putin’s rejection of peace.
Sitting across from him in the East Room, Trump once again brought up the idea of territorial concessions.
“We also need to discuss possible exchanges of territory, taking into account current contact details,” Trump told European leaders.
Zelenskyy postponed the issue and said it would be discussed later.
“We’ll discuss the level of leaders, all the delicate things, territory, etc,” Zelensky said in a three-way meeting with Trump and Putin.
Vibe Shift: Zelensky changes clothes and repeatedly thanks Trump
When Zelenskyy was in the oval office for the last time, everything seemed wrong to him.
He was laughed at by a reporter who was friendly to Maga because he wasn’t wearing a suit. Vance attacks him and says he should thank the United States for supporting Ukraine. Trump jumped in.
This battle was one of the most surprising diplomatic conferences in modern presidential history. The meeting ended with Zelenskyy’s visit being shorter.
This time, both he and Trump seemed determined to avoid a public catastrophe. Zelenskyy wore a black military style suit and repeatedly thanked Trump from the start.
Zelensky gave Trump a letter saying it was for his wife, not for him, and that he urged him to laugh along with the Ukrainian leader. Trump praised Zelensky for his outfit.
After instigating the mountain last time, Vance never spoke this time. He leaned over to the couch while the leader was in a conversation.
Trump went out of his way to praise European leaders. There was obvious tension beneath the surface.
Sitting next to Trump, Macron, who is often disabled, said he was “very clear” about the fact that Europeans must make “fair distribution” with Ukrainian security guarantees.
Meltz thanked Trump, but he was pointed out directly.
“The next steps ahead will be more complicated,” Meltz said.
Trump says “when” at a tripartite meeting between Zelensky and Putin
After high-wire diplomacy on display at his successive summits, Trump is framing the next big step as a three-way meeting, including Putin and Zelensky.
Trump said it’s a question of “when, not” when such a meeting takes place.
“After this meeting, I’m going to set it up today,” he said.
Trump later said he spoke with Putin after his meeting concluded that he was a European leader. He said there will be a three-way meeting “after” without designating when.
Contribution: Joey Garrison
