Trump Seeks Peace as European Leaders Meet in Washington
President Donald Trump expressed his desire for peace as European leaders, along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, gathered in Washington to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. This meeting follows a lengthy summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that took place in Alaska last week.
During the White House meeting with Zelensky, a number of European leaders had arrived for discussions. Trump described the summit with Putin as a sign of “great progress” in the context of resolving the conflict.
In a session held in the Oval Office, a reporter asked Trump about his talks with European leaders and their role in supporting the war’s end. Trump responded, saying, “We are going to meet with a great representative group and seven very powerful, very large nations and great people, my friends and all of your friends. They want to see peace. They want to see peace.”
Trump noted that if discussions on Monday go well, a trilateral meeting involving Zelensky and Putin might be on the horizon. He mentioned, “I think there’s a reasonable chance to end the war when we do that.” He also indicated plans to reach out to Putin to facilitate the meeting.
Zelensky indicated that Ukraine is prepared for a trilateral dialogue aimed at ending the war, showing readiness to participate. The potential for such a meeting is viewed as a vital step toward direct negotiations among the three leaders.
The European officials participating include British Prime Minister Kiel, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Chairman Mark Latte.
Ongoing discussions reflect months of tension surrounding various approaches to achieve peace. European Union leaders have emphasized that international borders should remain unchanged, while Trump has pushed for a direct peace agreement instead of a mere temporary ceasefire.
This meeting marks Zelensky’s first visit back to the White House since a controversial period, during which Trump cautioned that expanding Ukraine’s military efforts could risk a more significant global conflict.
Despite challenges, Trump reiterated his commitment to pursuing peace negotiations. “People are being killed, so we want to finish it,” he remarked.
