President Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian President Voldy Mirzelensky at the White House on Monday, marking their first encounter since a tense meeting back in February.
In this upcoming meeting, Trump is likely to urge Zelensky to consider the peace deal he discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the recent summit in Alaska.
Zelensky’s goal is to steer clear of the contentious atmosphere that marred his last visit while avoiding concessions that might seem to reward Putin’s aggression.
Later that day, European leaders who have consistently backed Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict will convene for their second meeting.
This is what both leaders hope to address in their respective discussions:
Trump
The president is eager for a swift peace deal and is poised to press Ukraine for significant concessions to facilitate this.
Trump appears to be advocating for a broader agreement rather than simply a temporary ceasefire, which Ukraine has sought, aiming instead to bring a definitive end to the war.
Yet, he has indicated that territorial concessions might need to be a part of this deal, and it remains uncertain what terms Putin would accept. U.S. officials suggest that Putin is interested in halting the conflict along the current lines between Russian and Ukrainian forces, rather than recognizing the illegally annexed regions from 2022.
Another topic that hangs in the balance is whether the U.S. will officially recognize Crimea as part of Russia, a point of contention ever since its annexation in 2014.
“Ukrainian President Zelensky could effectively end the war with Russia if he wanted to,” Trump remarked.
He implied that NATO involvement in Ukraine had backfired, referencing past administrations and decisions made regarding Crimea.
Historically, Ukraine has emphasized its right to self-determination in pursuing security partnerships and NATO membership as a counter to Russian aggression, while Russia has justified its military actions partly on the premise of Ukraine’s NATO aspirations.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkov, shared on Sunday that the U.S. stands ready to extend security assurances to Ukraine. However, he mentioned the particulars of these assurances remain unresolved and it’s unclear whether they would be acceptable to both Ukraine and European nations.
There’s a concerted effort from the White House to secure a Nobel Peace Prize for Trump, and a peace agreement regarding Ukraine would undoubtedly bolster his reputation as a peacemaker.
Zelensky
Inevitably, Zelensky seeks strong military backing from the U.S. along with stringent sanctions on Russia, which he will likely advocate for during Monday’s discussions.
However, he’s also wary of making commitments that might jeopardize Ukraine’s independence and security.
Trump has often placed some blame on Zelensky for the ongoing invasions, and after his meeting with Putin, he stated that Zelensky has largely been positioned as the leader responsible for the situation.
Zelensky aims to project an openness to peace negotiations while resisting any agreements that could entail territorial compromises or limits on Ukraine’s military alliances. He is also trying to communicate that it’s Putin who is the primary obstacle to peace.
“Russia can be compelled into a peaceful resolution via strength, and President Trump exemplifies that strength. We should do everything correctly to reach peace,” Zelensky remarked after meeting with Trump’s envoy, Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg.
Trump has indicated that he will permit a steady influx of U.S. weaponry into Ukraine, contingent upon support from other NATO allies.
It seems he has also temporarily set aside his earlier threats to impose “secondary sanctions” on entities trading with Russia, following the Alaska summit.
Before the summit, Trump had become increasingly frustrated with Putin’s persistent aggression towards Ukraine.
Zelensky and the European leaders are working to remind Trump that the war is fundamentally Putin’s doing, aiming to align negotiations clearly. They emphasize that formal peace talks cannot proceed without a ceasefire, and there should be no limits on Ukraine’s future security arrangements, ensuring the pressure on Putin remains high to strengthen Ukraine’s position.
