European leaders flocked to Washington, DC for critical talks with President Donald Trump that they had ended the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky to meet Trump in DC after the Alaska Summit with Putin
Ukrainian President Zelenki confirmed a meeting with President Trump at the White House on Monday to end the Russian war after the Alaska Summit with Trump and Putin.
Ukrainian President Voldymi Zelenki returned to the White House on August 18th. This time, adjacent to European leaders, he held critical discussions about the war between President Donald Trump and the besieged country with Russia.
The meeting comes six months after Trump failed to sign a contract with Russian President Vladimir Putin to suspend hostility at the Alaska summit, six months after Ukrainian leaders were dressed down by administrative authorities in a hostile oval clash in February.
However, the round was different in saying that Trump pledged “many help” to thank Ukrainians and Europeans for stepping up to create space for peace talks.
The US will “involve” in protecting Ukraine after a peace deal with Russia, Trump said, but he provided details and repeated Putin saying that there is no need for a ceasefire before completing the deal.
Let’s take a look at some of the key moments at the Trump Zelensky White House Conference.
“There’s no easy solution”: Europe arrives at the White House
European leaders submitted one by one to the White House, where soldiers, sailors and airmen holding our state flag lined up in the driveway.
They were greeted by Monica Crowley, Chief of State Department Protocol.
In addition to Zelensky, the administration is hosted by NATO executive director Mark Latte, British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer, German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finland President Alexander Stab and European Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen.
However, the group was not part of the Ukrainian president’s first sit-in with Trump.
Instead, each had lunch at a state cafeteria while Trump and Zelensky met in an oval office. With so many high-ranking officials visiting, the White House should take advantage of sitting parlors that are not normally used as offices such as Red Rooms and Blue Rooms.
Italian Prime Minister Meloni said “there is no easy solution,” and said against the Russian war in Ukraine. “We believe that we must explore all possible solutions to ensure peace and security in our country.”
Zelenskyy arrives with new hope, new look
The two waving and posed for the camera, so that black-dressed Zelenkey was pulled up to the White House and greeted by Trump.
The Ukrainian president was ocky by Trump and others before being booted from the location after dressing in a military style in an oval office that he has worn regularly since Russia’s first invasion in 2022. It was the Army-adjusted sweatshirts and police, where Zelenkiy met world leaders, met armed troops, and maintained most of his appearance.
However, this time, 47-year-old Zelensky dressed up a bit, wearing a black jacket and a black collared shirt, saying his designers remained the same “military key” and symbolism.
Former NATO’s top alliance commander, Admiral James Stabridis, had suggested that European leaders would appear in the White House wearing olive fatigue in solidarity shows.
At one point, Zelensky was questioned by Brian Glenn about the authentic American voice, the same reporter who denounced his outfit earlier this year. He apologised to Zelenskyy for his previous comments during the exchange, saying that it looked amazing that Trump agreed to.
“You’re wearing the same suit,” Zelensky told Glenn. “As you can see, I’ve changed, you’re not.”
Oval Office Doover – No Heckling for jd vance
Eventually the two proceed inside, where Trump calls it “honor” and revisits Zelenki’s visit.
As some political observers pointed out, there was no red carpet, but both men seemed to reset their relationship in front of the world. Within the oval office, many of the same administrative authorities joined us as in February.
Zelenskyy provided the president with a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska. This was written to first lady Melania Trump, who thanked her for writing a message to Putin, who raised a light letter from local children.
The First Lady letter never specifically mentioned Ukraine, but conveyed the need for a “world of dignity for all” and called on Putin to “serve mankind.” However, this time there will be no such interruption from the VP.
Unlike Putin, the difficult question for Ukrainian leaders
Apart from red carpet treatment, one notable difference compared to the Putin Summit in Alaska is that Zelensky has submitted difficult questions about his actions, reflecting criticisms by US authorities that are right-leaning, including when Ukraine holds a new election.
Zelensky, which ended in May 2024, held elections amid the war under Ukrainian law, but on August 18th he showed he was open to retaining them under the peace agreement.
“Of course, yes,” the Ukrainian leader said in response to a question from a reporter.
Trump screamed with a smirk, suggesting that in three and a half years the US happens to be “at war with someone,” and there will not be an election in 2028.
“You like this idea,” Zelensky said with a laugh.
Zelenskyy reiterated that his country needs our support in weapons and intelligence.
After meeting with Putin, Trump retreated his quest for a ceasefire, reiterating that he could achieve a larger peace deal while the battle continued. The president hinted that the US might provide security assurances, but welcomed Ukraine to NATO, where Putin is vehemently opposed.
Once a meeting between Zelenskyy and European leaders is concluded, Trump said he plans to call Putin.
“Family Photographs” with Allies, and Democratic Attacks
Standing between French presidents Zelensky and Macron, Trump took a photo with Crosshall European leaders.
At one point, Trump pointed to a portrait depicting an attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania during the 2024 presidential election. “It wasn’t a good day,” he said. “It wasn’t a great day. Look at the photos.”
Things then moved to the East Room, where Trump held courts across the group, outlining the need for an agreement to end the war. He said there could be a trilateral summit between Putin and Zelensky, which could resolve territorial disputes.
“It’s not that, it’s time for us to do it,” Trump said.
NATO leader Rutte praised Trump for breaking a deadlock with Putin by bringing the Russian leader to the negotiation table.
“I think if you play this well, you can finish this,” Latte said. “We have to end this. We have to stop the killings. We have to stop the destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure. It’s a terrible war.”
According to the Center for Strategy and International Studies, a bipartisan nonprofit policy research group, Putin faces accusations of war crimes from the International Criminal Court after launching a war that killed more than 1.4 million people.
Many European leaders have said this is the most progress they’ve seen in ending the war since it began in 2022, but Democrats didn’t give Trump the same praise he showered on August 18th.
Instead, they were used on the official page of the X Party, which depicts Trump walking on Putin’s dog leash.
Contributors: Sarah Wire, Francesca Chambers, Joey Garrison
