Content of the Washington Talks
Trump–Zelenskiy Bilateral Meeting in the Oval Office
A bilateral meeting took place in the Oval Office of the White House between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenskiy. The discussions addressed Ukraine’s security needs, the establishment of a ceasefire, the preservation of territorial integrity, and the parameters of peace.
Trump conveyed to Zelenskiy his impressions from his earlier meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskiy emphasized that the Ukrainian Constitution does not permit territorial concessions and stated that no territorial compromise would be negotiable.
Trump underscored the critical importance of security guarantees, saying, “It is a crucial step for President Putin to accept the security guarantees for Ukraine; this is one of the key points and we will evaluate it at the table.” He also raised the need to discuss the possibility of a “land swap.”
Trump indicated that Zelenskiy and Putin could reach a final solution and announced that a trilateral summit would be organized if progress is achieved. Zelenskiy stated that lasting peace requires durable security guarantees, which must go beyond written commitments and be supported by military and political mechanisms. He emphasized that a system similar to NATO’s Article 5 is vital for Ukraine.
Zelenskiy also stated that a ceasefire is a precondition for any potential trilateral summit and asserted that a direct Putin–Zelenskiy meeting cannot take place without a ceasefire.
Multi-Lateral Leaders Meeting in the East Room
Following the Oval Office meeting, a multi-lateral meeting lasting approximately one hour and forty minutes was held in the White House’s East Room. Attendees included NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and other European representatives.
The meeting addressed security guarantees, ceasefire, territorial issues, and the parameters of the peace process. In his discussions with Zelenskiy and the European leaders, Trump stated that security guarantees must be supported by both the United States and Europe.
The possibility of a trilateral summit (Trump–Putin–Zelenskiy) was also raised. Trump indicated that such a summit would be scheduled depending on the progress of the process. Emmanuel Macron stated that the summit could only occur if a ceasefire is achieved and proposed a quadrilateral meeting following the trilateral one, including European leaders. At the conclusion of the meeting, the European leaders issued a joint statement affirming that work on security guarantees would continue and that coordination would be maintained through virtual meetings in the coming days.
The Position of the United States and President Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism during and after the White House talks that peace in Ukraine could be achieved. Trump emphasized that renewed direct contact with Putin was critical for progress and noted that numerous issues were raised during his bilateral meeting with Zelenskiy in the Oval Office.
Trump highlighted the importance of security guarantees, repeating, “It is a crucial step for President Putin to accept the security guarantees for Ukraine; this is one of the key points and we will evaluate it at the table.” This statement demonstrated that security guarantees occupy a central place on the agendas of both the United States and Europe.
Trump also asserted that the issue of a “land swap” must be put on the table, suggesting that an agreement could be reached to prevent any future attacks against Ukraine. He emphasized the preventive function of such an agreement, stating, “I am optimistic that together we can reach an agreement to prevent any future attacks on Ukraine, and I actually believe such an attack will not happen.”
Trump expressed his belief that Zelenskiy and Putin could find a solution for peace and stressed that the final decision must rest on the mutual agreement of the two leaders. He indicated that if the talks succeed, the next step would be a trilateral summit, saying, “The next step will be a trilateral meeting and we will handle it. I am eagerly looking forward to an excellent outcome.”
Trump also commented on the timeline of the process, stating, “In one or two weeks, we will know whether we can resolve this issue or whether these conflicts will continue. We will do everything in our power to bring this to an end,” signaling his expectation for clarity on developments in the short term.
The U.S. side also emphasized that strong security guarantees for Ukraine were being actively worked on during the talks. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff announced that Putin had shown a positive attitude toward these guarantees. Trump stated that he believed both Russia and Ukraine wanted to reach an agreement and that a mutual understanding could be achieved in the near future.
Putin–Trump Phone Call
During the White House talks, Trump held a approximately 40-minute phone call with Putin. According to Kremlin Foreign Policy Advisor Yuriy Ushakov, the call was initiated by Trump. Ushakov noted that Putin thanked Trump for the hospitality and good organization during the Alaska summit and expressed satisfaction with progress toward a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis.
It was disclosed that Trump informed Putin about his meetings with Zelenskiy and the European leaders. Ushakov stated, “Putin and Trump affirmed their support for the continuation of talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations. Both leaders discussed the idea of elevating the level of direct negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian negotiation teams.”
Statements by European Leaders
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in a statement before the talks, emphasized that ending the war was imperative, saying, “If we play our cards well, we can end this. We must end it.” Addressing Trump, he said, “You said you are ready to join security guarantees. This is a major step, a real turning point. It changes everything.” In an interview with Fox News, Rutte revealed that under the leadership of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, 30 countries including Japan and Australia are working on security guarantees. Rutte clarified, “The issue we are discussing here is not NATO membership; it is security guarantees for Ukraine similar to NATO’s Article 5.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the talks as “an important step.” She said, “It is very good to hear that we are working on security guarantees. Security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5 are extremely important.” She also noted cooperation with Trump toward a fair and lasting peace.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the trilateral summit could contribute to resolving not only Ukraine’s security guarantees but also more complex issues, stating, “The trilateral meeting can help address Ukraine’s security guarantees and more difficult problems. It could be a truly significant and historic step.”
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that a ceasefire is a precondition for any trilateral summit, saying, “To hold such a trilateral meeting, as we have said, you need a ceasefire or at minimum an end to the loss of life in Ukraine. It is a necessity.” Macron also proposed a quadrilateral meeting following the trilateral summit, including European leaders.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb highlighted his country’s long border with Russia, stating, “Solutions that end Russia’s attacks on Ukraine and ensure lasting peace must be produced immediately. The task is difficult but possible. That is why we are here.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivered a message of unity, saying, “If we want to achieve peace and justice, we must remember that we must do it together.” Meloni emphasized that providing security guarantees to Ukraine is a prerequisite for peace.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that a ceasefire is mandatory for any further meeting to take place, saying, “I cannot imagine the next meeting happening without a ceasefire. So let us work on it and apply pressure on Russia.” Merz also disclosed that during the talks, Trump had spoken by phone with Putin and that a meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy is planned within two weeks.
Discussions on Security Guarantees
One of the main agenda items of the White House talks was the security guarantees to be provided to Ukraine. Both the United States and Europe stressed that these guarantees are essential for advancing the peace process.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the importance of security guarantees, stating, “The issue we are discussing here is not NATO membership. The issue we are discussing is security guarantees for Ukraine similar to NATO’s Article 5.” Rutte also noted the United States’ willingness to participate in this framework and indicated that Washington’s role would be discussed in the coming days.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that security guarantees form the foundation of the peace process and stated, “It is very good to hear that we are working on security guarantees. Security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5 are extremely important.” She noted that this framework would concrete Europe’s support for Ukraine.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that security guarantees would be strengthened through the trilateral summit, asserting that the meeting could contribute significantly to securing Ukraine’s safety and could be “a truly important and historic step.”
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that security guarantees are indispensable for lasting peace. He affirmed that European countries are ready to fulfill their responsibilities and emphasized that security guarantees must be backed by Ukraine’s development of a strong and reliable military.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defined security packages as “a prerequisite for peace” and stated that providing security guarantees to Ukraine is the fundamental element of any agreement.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed that security guarantees must be coordinated with European partners. He confirmed the United States’ readiness on this issue and said, “What is at stake here is not only Ukraine’s territory but Europe’s political order,” highlighting the continental security dimension of the guarantees.
Forward-Looking Process
Following the White House talks, a framework for future steps was outlined. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that during Trump’s phone call with Russian President Putin, it was decided that a meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy would take place within the next two weeks. The location of the meeting has not yet been determined.
The U.S. side and Trump announced that preparations are underway for a potential trilateral summit (Trump–Putin–Zelenskiy). Macron proposed a quadrilateral meeting following the trilateral summit, including European leaders.
European leaders agreed to maintain coordination through virtual meetings in the coming days. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that work on security guarantees will continue and that tangible progress is expected within the next ten days.
The issue of sanctions was also on the agenda. The European side emphasized the need to establish a common position on the future of sanctions against Russia.
