Trump and Zelensky Meet in Oval Office
President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky conducted a much warmer meeting in the Oval Office on Monday compared to their heated encounter in February by the fireplace.
This discussion came just days after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to talk about potentially ending the war in Ukraine.
During the Oval Office meeting, Trump mentioned a larger gathering planned at the White House involving seven European leaders. He expressed hopes of speaking with Putin again after those discussions.
“I think if you have trilateral talks, there’s a good chance we’ll find a resolution,” Trump remarked. “But he’s waiting for my call after we finish here.”
Both leaders adopted cautious tones, steering clear of the tensions that characterized their previous meeting.
“We’re going to hold a meeting. If all goes well today, with three involved, I believe there’s a fair chance to end the conflict,” Trump said.
Vice President JD Vance was also present but opted not to engage much during this meeting, having previously clashed with Zelensky.
When asked if one side had a better advantage in the conflict or what the future of US support for Ukraine would look like if today’s discussions did not yield results, Trump replied carefully, “I can’t say that; it’s never the end of the road.” He emphasized the urgency of stopping the violence.
He suggested that a ceasefire might not be essential before achieving a broader peace agreement and indicated the possibility of U.S. involvement in a future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
“We’re not looking at two years of peace; we want to ensure stability,” Trump noted. “We’ll collaborate with both Russia and Ukraine to make this work.”
On the question of whether the U.S. would offer security assurances to Ukraine, Trump mentioned, “I’ll update you on that later.” He stated that European nations would be the first line of defense, but the U.S. could still play a supportive role.
“When it comes to security, they’ll contribute significantly… They’re right there,” he added.
The tone of this latest conference was markedly different from February, where Trump and the Vice President had criticized Ukrainian leaders for not leveraging their situation effectively against Russian aggression.
As they met outside the West Wing, Trump welcomed Zelensky with a handshake and a friendly pat on the back, responding to reporters’ questions.
Zelensky appeared to adapt from previous experiences, thanking Trump for his efforts to “stop the murder and end this war.” He also extended his appreciation to First Lady Melania Trump for a message she wrote to Putin addressing the plight of children during the invasion.
The Ukrainian delegation appeared more formally attired this time, in contrast to their earlier visit where they lacked proper suits.
One reporter even complimented Zelensky’s attire, leading to a light-hearted moment: “You look great in that suit,” said Brian Glenn, an enthusiastic Trump supporter. Trump agreed, adding humorously that he noticed Glenn was wearing a similar suit to the one he had on back in February, which earned laughter from the group.
