US President Donald Trump declared on Monday that Russia is willing to accept security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace agreement, following a remarkable meeting involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House, reports 24brussels.
Trump expressed hope for an end to Russia’s invasion and indicated his readiness for a three-way meeting with Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he met in Alaska the previous week. Zelenskyy characterized the discussions with Trump as the “best” to date, citing improvements in tone since their contentious February encounter.
“In a week or two weeks, we’re going to know whether or not we’re going to solve this or if this horrible fighting is going to continue,” Trump stated as the meeting commenced, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
The gathering of leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Commission, and NATO highlighted ongoing concerns regarding Trump’s pressure on Ukraine to concede to Moscow’s demands. Prior to this meeting, Trump had urged Ukraine to relinquish Crimea and abandon its NATO aspirations, integral requests from Putin.
‘Exchanges of territory’
Despite the pressure, Trump emphasized that his conversations with Putin had yielded progress on security guarantees for Ukraine. “In a very significant step, President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine,” Trump noted. He mentioned the need to explore potential “exchanges of territory” between the two nations amidst reports that Putin aimed to have Ukraine cede its eastern Donbas region in return for a freeze on the current frontline.
Ukraine firmly rejected such negotiations. Trump reiterated his willingness to participate in a trilateral meeting with both leaders soon to push towards a peace agreement. “I think if everything works out well today, we’ll have a trilateral, and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that,” he asserted during the Oval Office discussion.
Zelenskyy praised the meeting, highlighting the importance of strong signals from the United States regarding Western security guarantees. The tone of the meeting was starkly different from the previous harsh exchanges when Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly criticized Zelenskyy for a perceived lack of gratitude for U.S. support six months earlier. Trump even complimented Zelenskyy on his attire, a notable shift from previous interactions.
‘Really excited’
European leaders expressed appreciation and optimism during the discussions, emphasizing the importance of achieving a lasting peace to end the conflict. “I’m really excited. Let’s make the best out of today,” said NATO chief Mark Rutte as Trump solicited their input.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb suggested that Trump’s efforts had shifted the dynamics of the conflict. Meloni remarked on the recent progress, while leaders across the board celebrated conversations about “Article 5-like” guarantees for Ukraine.
Trump stated his belief that “European nations are going to take a lot of the burden and we’re going to help them,” although the extent of U.S. assistance remained uncertain.
Thinking of the children
A significant topic was the need for prisoner swaps and the repatriation of children. At the Alaska Summit, Trump conveyed to Putin a letter from First Lady Melania Trump, advocating for the return of Ukrainian children to their families. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the effort, while Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the urgency of reuniting children with their families, reflecting deep humanitarian concerns.
As Trump prepared for a closed-door meeting in the Oval Office, plans for the next steps became apparent. He indicated he would speak with Putin by phone later on Monday, aiming to advance towards a trilateral summit. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged a focus on a ceasefire before settling a full peace deal, advocating for increased pressure on Russia. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed that a quadrilateral meeting might become necessary to ensure the security of the entire European continent.
(cp)
