The last time Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the White House, the meeting ended abruptly, with President Donald Trump dismissing him as “not ready for peace.”
On Monday, the two leaders will try again — this time under the shadow of Trump’s breakthrough meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Saturday.
Trump announced Saturday that he will host Zelenskyy at the Oval Office to press directly for a peace agreement aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
“The meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia went very well, as did a late night phone call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, and various European leaders, including the highly respected Secretary General of NATO,” Trump posted on TruthSocial shortly after returning to Washington.
He said both sides have agreed that a full peace deal — not merely a temporary ceasefire — is the only way forward. “If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin. Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved,” Trump wrote.
During a joint press conference in Anchorage on Friday, Putin echoed that sentiment, saying Russia is interested in “putting an end” to the war but insisted that the “roots” of the conflict must be addressed. He argued that any agreement must include recognition of Russia’s security concerns and restore “a just balance of security in Europe and in the world as a whole.”
Trump, for his part, said “many points were agreed to” with Putin but admitted one major sticking point remains. “There is no deal until there’s a deal,” he cautioned, adding that the ultimate outcome rests with Zelenskyy and Putin.
Zelenskyy, in his own statement Saturday, set down firm conditions for peace. He said Ukraine must see a halt to missile strikes, an end to Russia’s assaults on port infrastructure, and the release of prisoners of war and abducted children. He warned that sanctions should be strengthened if Moscow drags its feet.
“We need to achieve real peace that will be lasting, not just another pause between Russian invasions,” Zelenskyy wrote. “All issues important to Ukraine must be discussed with Ukraine’s involvement, and no issue, including territorial ones, should be resolved without Ukraine.”
The Monday White House meeting will mark the first face-to-face between Trump and Zelenskyy since their February clash, when Trump walked out after saying the Ukrainian leader wasn’t serious about ending the war. Since then, the two men have held side meetings in Europe and appear to have mended relations enough to set the stage for what could be the most consequential round of peace talks since Russia’s invasion began.
