Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday that he will travel to Washington on August 18 to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine.
The announcement came after what Zelensky described as a “long and substantive conversation” with Trump, during which the U.S. president briefed him on his August 15 summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Zelensky revealed that he first held a one-on-one discussion with Trump, followed by talks involving European leaders.
“I intend to discuss all the details regarding the end of the killings and the end of the war when I meet President Trump in Washington on Monday. I am grateful for the invitation,” Zelensky stated.
He voiced support for Trump’s proposal of a trilateral summit between Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia as a format to address key issues at the leadership level. Zelensky also stressed Ukraine’s readiness to work productively for peace and emphasized the need for continuous involvement of European partners to ensure the country’s security with U.S. support.
EU Welcomes Trilateral Talks but Stresses Security Guarantees
European leaders — including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — welcomed the announcement of a trilateral meeting but underscored the need to maintain pressure on Russia until a just peace is reached.
They reaffirmed that Moscow cannot hold a veto over Ukraine’s path to EU or NATO membership and pledged to continue strengthening sanctions and economic measures against Russia’s war economy.
Von der Leyen emphasized that “strong security guarantees protecting Ukraine’s vital security interests” are essential. Diplomats hinted that Trump offered Kyiv assurances similar to NATO membership but separate from the alliance.
Trump Rules Out Immediate Ceasefire
Upon returning from Alaska, President Trump dismissed the possibility of an immediate ceasefire, stressing instead that a “direct peace agreement” would be the only way to end the war.
“A ceasefire often does not hold. The best path forward is a real peace deal that ends the war,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
While no breakthrough was reached at the Alaska summit, Trump insisted that “great progress” had been made. Putin, for his part, said the two sides had reached an “understanding” on Ukraine, while warning Europe not to dismiss the “first signs of progress.”
Mixed Reactions from Europe and Russia
- Macron warned of Russia’s “well-documented habit of breaking its commitments” and called for firm guarantees in any peace deal.
- Orban, however, welcomed the summit, declaring that “the world is safer today than yesterday.”
- Russian officials downplayed talk of a trilateral summit, with Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov saying it had not been formally discussed.
Meanwhile, hours after the Alaska talks ended, Russia launched drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, highlighting the continued intensity of the conflict.
The Washington meeting between Trump and Zelensky on August 18 is now seen as a critical step toward potential peace negotiations, with European leaders pushing to remain closely involved in the process.
