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Trump backs peace deal in Zelensky White House meeting

In The White House News by Newsroom August 18, 2025

Trump backs peace deal in Zelensky White House meeting

Credit: AP

Summary

  • Trump supports the peace deal between Ukraine, Russia.
  • Welcomed Zelensky warmly to White House.
  • High-stakes talks focused on conflict resolution.
  • Calls for an end to the Ukraine war.
  • Emphasizes the importance of diplomatic negotiations.

In order to conclude the three-and-a-half-year conflict, the two presidents also expressed hope that the crucial conference in Washington, DC, which also included European leaders, could result in three-party negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Additionally, Trump stated that any agreement to stop the conflict would include the US helping Europe secure Ukraine.

Trump stated that there will be a "NATO-like" security presence but refrained from committing US troops to the mission. He went on to say that the men's afternoon meeting with EU leaders would be used to iron out specifics.

“They want to give protection and they feel very strongly about it and we’ll help them out with that,”

Trump said.

“I think it's very important to get the deal done.”

The atmosphere of Monday's discussion was very different from that of the previous Trump-Zelensky Oval Office meeting in February. After he and Vice President JD Vance expressed dissatisfaction at Zelensky's lack of appreciation for US military support, Trump suddenly ended negotiations with the Ukrainian delegation, marking a disastrous moment.

The hurried gathering followed Trump's Friday encounter with Putin in Alaska. He claimed that Zelensky now has the responsibility to consent to land concessions that could put an end to the conflict.

Zelensky responded with his own post late Sunday, saying,

“We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably.”

He said that

“peace must be lasting,”

not as it was after Russia seized Crimea and part of the Donbas in eastern Ukraine eight years ago, and

“Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack.”

At the beginning of the meeting, Zelensky showed a letter written for Trump's wife, Melania, by his wife, Olena Zelenska. Over the weekend, the US first lady wrote to Putin, pleading with him to cease the bloody conflict.

Trump once made fun of Zelensky for Ukraine's election postponement. Due to the ongoing Russian invasion, they were postponed from their original date of last year. When martial law is in place, Ukrainian law prohibits the holding of presidential elections.

A comparable situation would not play well in the United States, Trump joked.

“So let me just say three and a half years from now — so you mean, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections, oh, I wonder what the fake news would say,”

Trump said.

What role do European leaders see for the U.S. in Ukraine’s conflict resolution?

European leaders expect the U.S. to provide robust, NATO-style security guarantees to Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression. These guarantees would likely involve a strong military presence, sustained arms supplies, intelligence sharing, and potentially a coalition security force.

Europe sees the U.S. as a pivotal mediator in peace negotiations due to its influential position with both Ukraine and Russia. They hope the U.S. will facilitate dialogue and help broker a sustainable peace agreement that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

European leaders rely on continued American military aid and financial assistance for Ukraine, viewing U.S. support as essential to Ukraine’s defense and post-war reconstruction.

 

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