Image Credit: Hindustan Times
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday indicated his willingness to hold a trilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was willing to host the talks in Alaska. The move comes amid increased efforts to secure a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine.
Trump and Zelensky engaged in public and private talks in the Oval Office. The meeting came after Trump's meeting with Putin in Alaska, which he called "very productive." The U.S. president reaffirmed it was "never the end of the road" in trying to end the conflict, indicating that there was still "a good chance" to bring an end to the war.
I know the president, I know myself, and I think Vladimir Putin would like to see it come to an end," Trump said, indicating cautious hope.
The two leaders held bilateral meetings, and then the larger gathering took place with prominent European leaders. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte were all present along with Trump and Zelensky.
Trump pointed out that the group would have an influence on future security assurances for Ukraine, and he hinted at coordinated international engagement.
Off geopolitics, Zelensky's fashion lit some friendly fire. The Ukrainian president, normally clad in military fatigues, wore a suit, eliciting comments from Trump and journalists. "He's all dressed up today," Trump joked, making the press corps chuckle. Zelensky was complimented by one journalist that he looked "fabulous," a pointed rebuke for criticism earlier when he bypassed formal wear.
During the Oval Office session, Zelensky presented Trump with a letter from his wife, to U.S. First Lady Melania Trump. The act followed a similar recent action by Trump, who had presented Putin in Alaska with a letter from Melania calling for hostilities to cease. Zelensky explained, "My wife, the first lady of Ukraine, she gave the letter. It's not to you but to your wife," evoking smiles within the room.
Trump refused to be drawn on whether American troops would be sent into Ukraine when questioned on the issue. "We'll let you know that, maybe, later today," he replied, adding that any decision would be taken in close consultation with European allies. "They'll all be involved. When it comes to security, there's going to be a lot of help."
Zelensky was also ready to conduct elections in Ukraine after achieving a truce and guaranteeing security. "You can't hold elections during the war," he stated, emphasizing the requirement for a country-wide ceasefire to guarantee security. Trump interrupted with a joke concerning American elections, declaring, "Oh, I wonder what the fake news would say if we did that here," eliciting laughter.
The two leaders subsequently characterized their White House encounter as extremely successful. Trump reasserted his ambition to organize a trilateral summit with Putin, while Zelensky emphasized Ukraine's eagerness to bring the war to an end. "All of us want to finish this war and stop Russia," Zelensky stated, aligning his position with Washington's new diplomatic push.
