POTUS Trump Hosts Zelenskyy as Europe Rallies on Peace; Prez Putin Call Looms After Alaska Summit
U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a critical round of talks on the future of the war in Ukraine, joined by an unusually large contingent of European leaders. The meeting -- marked by spectacle, tense undertones, and Trump’s characteristic off-script remarks -- underscored the profound uncertainty hanging over efforts to end Europe’s bloodiest conflict in decades.
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| Image Source: White House |
Zelenskyy’s Plea and Europe’s Presence
Zelenskyy arrived in Washington late Sunday, after coordinating with European allies including the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. The unusually high-level European presence -- with leaders Macron, Meloni, Merz, Stubb, von der Leyen, and Starmer gathering in Washington -- reflected growing anxiety on the continent.
Many had been sidelined from Trump’s high-profile Alaska summit with Putin just days earlier, where concessions such as Crimea and NATO aspirations were reportedly floated.
From the start, Zelenskyy struck a defiant tone. “Pressure must work, and it must be joint pressure -- from the United States and Europe, and from everyone in the world who respects the right to life and the international order,” he posted on social media.
At the Oval Office, sitting alongside Trump, he added: “We’re going to make sure that if there’s peace, that peace is going to stay long-term… not a two-year peace, after which we are back in this mess.”
President Trump Participates in a Bilateral Meeting with the President of Ukraine https://t.co/67r5vwqmpg
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 18, 2025
For Zelenskyy, the stakes could not be higher. Reports suggest Putin is demanding Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donetsk and Luhansk, permanent recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, the easing of Western sanctions, and official status for the Russian language across swathes of Ukraine.
Such terms would fundamentally reshape Ukraine’s sovereignty and Europe’s security architecture.
Trump’s Off-the-Cuff Commentary
True to form, Trump mixed geopolitics with political theatrics. He used the meeting to rail against mail-in voting in the United States -- “If you have mail-in voting, you’re not going to have many Democrats get elected” -- while also claiming that Putin’s decision to come to U.S. soil was “the opposite of what they said, really wonderful that he did it.”
He personalized the stakes, too, citing his wife: “Melania hates to see something like this happening… She loves children, and she hates to see something like this happening. It was a very beautiful letter Zelenskyy gave her.”
Trump reiterated his belief that Putin wanted the war to end. “People are being killed and we want to stop that… I believe Vladimir Putin wants to see it ended,” he said, while dismissing the need for a ceasefire.
“I don’t think you need a ceasefire.”
At other points, Trump lashed out at “fake news” media and Democrats, insisting the war “would have NEVER happened if I was President” and branding critics of his peace drive as “stupid people, with no common sense.”
Europe Pushes Back
European leaders, wary of Trump’s unpredictability and his apparent closeness with Putin, sought to anchor the talks in collective Western resolve.
“Ukraine must not be forced into concessions that reward aggression,” one senior European official said, underscoring fears that Washington could cut a deal that leaves Europe exposed.
A look at the Oval Office here at the @WhiteHouse from behind the scenes as the press asks President @realDonaldTrump and @ZelenskyyUa questions… pic.twitter.com/bjCTq1xvRu
— Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) August 18, 2025
Their physical presence in Washington was itself a signal: a rare show of European unity meant to press Trump to guarantee Ukraine’s sovereignty and NATO’s credibility.
European Council president Antonio Costa announced a special EU videoconference for Tuesday to review the outcome of the White House talks.
Markets reflected the unease. European exchanges traded lower as investors awaited word from Washington, while oil prices swung amid speculation over whether Russia’s crude exports would be affected by any deal.
The Shadow of Putin
Behind the day’s choreography loomed the figure of Vladimir Putin. His Alaska meeting with Trump -- the first such U.S.-Russia summit on American soil in years -- had ended without a ceasefire, but with signals of ongoing backchannel dialogue.
Now, Trump’s announcement that he would call Putin after the Zelenskyy meeting raised both hopes and alarms.
Putin, according to reports, is pressing for major territorial concessions and an end to Ukraine’s NATO bid -- red lines for Kyiv.
At the same time, he has framed his willingness to engage as a sign that Russia wants the war “ended.”
In a parallel diplomatic channel, Putin also spoke by phone to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier Monday, briefing him on the Alaska meeting.
Modi reiterated India’s consistent call for a peaceful resolution “through diplomacy and dialogue,” underlining the global stakes of the Washington talks.
A Demonstrative War, a Cynical Timing
As if to remind all parties of the conflict’s brutality, Zelenskyy accused Moscow of carrying out “demonstrative and cynical” strikes on Ukrainian territory, including an Azerbaijani-owned oil facility, timed to coincide with the White House talks.
“Putin will commit demonstrative killings to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe, as well as to humiliate diplomatic efforts,” he wrote.
The air raid sirens over Kyiv on Monday underscored his point, triggered by a Russian MiG-31 capable of carrying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
Stakes and Next Steps
By evening in Washington, the optics were clear: never before had so many European leaders gathered at the White House for a single issue, as Trump himself marveled on social media. Yet the substance remained murky.
Would Trump’s follow-up call with Putin mark the start of a trilateral negotiation? Would Zelenskyy be pressured into concessions? Would Europe’s collective presence stiffen or soften Washington’s position?
For all the spectacle, the path forward is fraught. Ukraine has repeatedly vowed not to cede Crimea, not to abandon NATO ambitions, and not to reward Russian aggression. Putin has shown no sign of softening on these demands.
Trump, meanwhile, appears determined to deliver a breakthrough on his own terms, even if it means upending long-standing Western consensus.
President Trump welcomes President Zelenskyy to the White House 🇺🇸🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/AUNT7Ayvaj
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) August 18, 2025
What is certain is that Washington has become the focal point of a war that continues to kill thousands each month, roil global markets, and test the resilience of international institutions.
The day’s meetings may not produce peace but they may determine whether the path ahead leads to settlement, stalemate, or escalation.
For Trump, who declared on Truth Social that this was “Sleepy Joe Biden’s war, not mine,” the outcome will be judged not only by Ukrainians and Europeans but also by American voters, who will soon weigh whether his unorthodox approach represents reckless gamble or statesmanlike breakthrough.