Trump-Zelensky Meeting: High-Stakes Talks in Washington Amid Rising Global Pressure
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky touched down in Washington on Sunday, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown with US President Donald Trump on Monday.
The Trump-Zelensky meeting has captured global attention, coming just days after Trump’s tense summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Zelensky did not hide his intentions. On social media, he wrote: “I have already arrived in Washington, tomorrow I am meeting with President Trump. Tomorrow, we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS for the invitation.
I have already arrived in Washington, tomorrow I am meeting with President Trump. Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS for the invitation. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting. Not…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 18, 2025
We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting. Not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our eastern part of Donbas, and Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack.
Or when Ukraine was given so-called ‘security guarantees’ in 1994, but they didn’t work.”
The Ukrainian leader added, “Of course, Crimea should not have been given up then, just as Ukrainians did not give up Kyiv, Odesa, or Kharkiv after 2022. Ukrainians are fighting for their land, for their independence.
Now, our soldiers have successes in the Donetsk and Sumy regions. I am confident that we will defend Ukraine, effectively guarantee security, and that our people will always be grateful to President Trump, everyone in America, and every partner and ally for their support and invaluable assistance.
Russia must end this war, which it started. And I hope that our joint strength with America, with our European friends, will force Russia into a real peace. Thank you!”
Who else is joining the talks
Monday will not just be about Trump and Zelensky. European leaders are expected to join the talks, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO chief Mark Rutte, and Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission.
Their presence signals Europe’s determination to remain firmly in the room as decisions on peace, war, and security guarantees are thrashed out, echoing the stance taken at the leaders’ meeting in London.
A European diplomat told AFP the day will begin with a private one-on-one between Trump and Zelensky, followed by the arrival of the Europeans at the White House South Portico at noon (EDT). The schedule is tight, the stakes even tighter.
- 12:00 p.m. — European leaders arrive at the White House.
- 1:00 p.m. — Trump and Zelensky meet in the Oval Office, with Vice President JD Vance also in the room.
- 2:15 p.m. — Trump welcomes European leaders in the State Dining Room. A “family photo” is planned shortly after.
- 3:00 p.m. — All parties gather in the East Room for high-level negotiations.
Why this meeting matters
The meeting will be their first Oval Office encounter since a fiery exchange in February. That day ended in open hostility, with Trump and Vice President Vance accusing Zelensky of being ungrateful for US support.
Vance went further, branding Zelensky “disrespectful” after the Ukrainian leader voiced doubts about Putin’s word. Trump himself bristled when Zelensky warned that appeasing Moscow could have consequences for America in the future.
The spat rattled Kyiv-Washington relations and left many European capitals nervous about Trump’s commitment to Ukraine’s defence.
What happened with Putin last week?
All this unfolds against the backdrop of Trump’s Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin. The pair described their talks as “productive,” but no ceasefire or breakthrough followed.
Trump summed it up bluntly: “We are not there yet, but we have made progress. There is no deal until there’s a deal.”
For Zelensky, this meeting could shape Ukraine’s war strategy for months to come. For Trump, it’s a chance to prove he can deliver where Biden could not.
And for Europe — especially the UK, now firmly back in the diplomatic centre under Prime Minister Starmer, it’s a moment to ensure the West presents a united front.
The trump zelensky meeting may not deliver a deal. But it will send a signal, to Moscow, to Kyiv, and to the world, about how far Washington and its allies are willing to go in pursuit of peace.
