President Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, where he held a meeting with major European leaders. The meeting was marked by a positive tone and a promise of an imminent trilateral meeting between Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Trump. However, the underlying conflict remains unresolved, with no concrete details provided. European leaders praised Trump for committing to provide security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of a settlement, but this pledge came with no specifics.
Europeans succeeded in shoring up Zelensky, ensuring no repeat of the Oval Office humiliation of the Ukrainian president and defending Kyiv’s interests more broadly. European leaders expressed their belief that the war has enormous ramifications for other nations across the continent. Meloni, who is usually seen as more simpatico with Trump than counterparts like Macron and Merz, delivered a straightforward message to the media.
The issue of an interim ceasefire is a rare point of contention, as Trump seems ambivalent about it. Europeans view Putin with deep suspicion due to his expansionist instincts and untrustworthiness. On Monday, Trump vouched for Putin’s desire to make peace, stating that he believes Putin would like to do something else.
The stakes for each participant, including Trump, are enormous, as a trilateral meeting could be a make-or-break moment in the search for peace. If Putin, Zelensky, and Trump get together in one room, there will be no way to avoid the most difficult issues underpining the war.
