Trump and Zelenskyy Meeting: In a fresh development in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that he will meet Donald Trump in Washington on Monday. The announcement came shortly after US-Russia talks in Alaska between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to produce a deal to end the war.
The Alaska meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, was seen as a critical opportunity to broker peace. Trump and Putin engage in a two-and-a-half-hour conversation before addressing the press, but no breakthrough was reached on Ukraine.
While Trump described the talks as “extremely productive” with progress on several issues, he admitted that one major sticking point remained unresolved.
Following the failed summit, Trump held a series of calls with global leaders, including Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and other European heads of state. Zelenskyy later revealed on social media that his conversation with the US president was “long and substantive,” signaling a renewed push for coordinated diplomatic efforts.
European Leaders Back Trump’s Efforts but Stress Zelenskyy’s Inclusion
Across Europe, leaders welcomed Trump’s attempt to advance peace talks, but they emphasized the need to keep Ukraine at the center of negotiations. In a statement, UK Prime Minister Starmer said:
“I welcome the openness of the United States, alongside Europe, to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal. This is important progress and will be crucial in deterring Putin from coming back for more.”
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Starmer stresse that Zelenskyy’s role in ongoing discussions is non-negotiable, underlining that no durable peace can be achieved without Ukraine’s direct involvement. He also reiterated the UK’s commitment to maintaining pressure on Moscow through expanded sanctions. According to Starmer, Western economic measures have already had a severe impact on the Russian economy, and further steps will be taken until Russia ends its aggression.
Other European nations echoed this sentiment, urging Washington to ensure that any settlement discussions safeguard Kyiv’s sovereignty and security. Diplomats from Brussels, Berlin, and Paris emphasized that robust security guarantees for Ukraine must be central to any framework.
Next Steps: Washington Talks and Plans for Future Security
Zelenskyy’s upcoming meeting with Trump in Washington is expect. To focus on Ukraine’s security needs, economic recovery, and long-term defense arrangements. With the war dragging into another year, Kyiv remains heavily reliant on Western support to withstand Russian advances.
The UK and its allies have also thrown their weight behind an initiative known as “Multinational Force Ukraine”. A plan to create an international military framework designed to bolster Ukraine’s defenses once the conflict eases. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, planning is already underway to ensure. The rapid deployment of such a force in the event hostilities subside. The goal is to provide a permanent deterrent against future Russian aggression.
Despite setbacks in Alaska, Trump struck an optimistic tone, insisting that a resolution is still possible. Standing alongside Putin, he remarked:
“We had an extremely productive meeting, and many points were agreed to. There are just a very few that are left. Some are not that significant. One is probably the most significant, but we have a very good chance of getting there.”
For Zelenskyy, the Washington meeting is a chance to solidify Ukraine’s role in the peace process. Ensuring his country is not sidelined in high-stakes negotiations. The Ukrainian president has consistently argued that any deal over Ukraine must include Ukraine. A stance strongly supported by European allies.
As global attention now shifts to Washington, the stakes could not be higher. A successful meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy could lay the groundwork for renewed international cooperation. Potentially bridging gaps left unresolved in Alaska. On the other hand, continued deadlock risks prolonging a war that has already inflicted immense. Human and economic costs on Ukraine, Russia, and the wider world.