- August 19, 2025
Zelenskyy signals openness to three-way meeting with Trump and Putin
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Washington, Aug 18 (AP) President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump expressed hope that Monday’s critical talks with Ukrainian and European leaders at the White House could lead to trilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Monday’s hastily assembled meeting comes after Trump met with Putin and has said that the onus is now on Zelenskyy to agree to concessions that he said could end the war.
A group of European political heavy-hitters will also meet with the US president after they were left out of Friday’s summit, and they are looking to safeguard Ukraine and the continent from any widening aggression from Moscow.
Merz calls for ceasefire and to put pressure on Russia’ The German chancellor said he would “like to see a ceasefire from the next meeting, which should be a trilateral meeting” with Ukraine, Russia and the U.S.
Like his other European counterparts, Merz had praise for Trump for his role in the process of angling to work out an end to the war.
Rutte told Trump his willingness to participate in security guarantees marked a “breakthrough” and “makes all the difference.” Von der Leyen called for working together on “a just and lasting peace,” while Meloni called the gathering “an important day and new phase.” Despite comments earlier, Trump says ceasefire is preferred’ between Russia and Ukraine Trump said in an Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy earlier that a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was “unnecessary.” After an hour of closed-door meeting with EU leaders and Zelenskyy, Trump then told reporters in the East Room that “all of us would obviously prefer the immediate ceasefire while we work on a lasting peace.” He added that he likes a ceasefire because it would “immediately stop the killing,” but reiterated that a peace agreement between the two countries is “very attainable” at this point in the war.
Trump lavished praise on his guests Sitting in the East Room, Trump was jovial as he recognised all of the European leaders at the table.
He called Starmer “my friend” and said he liked Macron “from day one.” He said Merz was “very strong” and said “I want to get a tan like that.” He praised Stubb’s appearance, saying “you look better than I’ve ever seen you look.” Trump says he wants to put Russia-Ukraine war to sleep’ Trump is opening a group meeting with Zelenskyy and leaders from Europe.
He’s using a new phrase to say he wants to end the war. Trump said the group wants to see “if we can get it finished” and “put this to sleep.” Trump and European leaders pose for picture The US president and his guests lined up in the White House in a show of solidarity for the cameras. Macron was on his left, Zelenskyy on his right.
While they were standing there, Trump gestured toward a painting that depicts him pumping his fist after surviving an assassination attempt during last year’s presidential campaign.
“That was not a good day. Not a great day. See the picture?” Russian envoy says Moscow hopes Trump meetings now will keep open the opportunity for peace Russia’s deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyansky told U.N. reporters that “what everybody hopes” is that President Donald Trump’s meetings with Ukraine’s president and European leaders “will go in the same vein” as the U.S. leader’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last Friday.
He said Trump acknowledged that his meeting with Putin opened “an opportunity for a long and lasting peace.” “And we welcome very much such a scenario,” said Polyansky, who is Russia’s current charge d’affaires at the United Nations.
“We hope that the Ukrainian leadership will, instead of thinking about saving their own skin, think about their people who don’t want to fight and who are ready for peace — fair, just and long-lasting peace,” he said. “That’s what Russia is trying to achieve in Ukraine for many, many years.” Trump and Zelenskyy meeting privately The leaders were holding closed-door talks after they made opening statements and answered questions from reporters who were admitted to the Oval Office to see them together.
A group photo of Trump, Zelenskyy and the European leaders will follow before everyone meets in the East Room to discuss how to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Monday’s Trump-Zelenskyy meeting has friendlier vibe than their last It was only a few months ago that Trump and Zelenskyy last met in the Oval Office, but Monday’s face-to-face between the two leaders looked markedly different.
For much of their February exchange, during which Trump and Vance blasted Zelenskyy as “disrespectful” and warned about future American support, Zelenskyy crossed his arms and looked askance at the U.S. leaders. The presidents often spoke over each other, also gesturing disagreement.
Monday’s meeting was rounded out with more smiles and pleasantries between the two leaders, as well as agreement on some points regarding the ongoing war. Both men largely sat with their hands clasped in their laps, affably fielding questions from reporters.
Zelenskyy says Ukraine wants everything’ as far as US security guarantees, Trump says they would get very good protection’ The big topic of the Oval Office meeting Monday was what US security guarantees Ukraine needs to agree to a peace deal and whether Trump would be willing to provide them. Zelenskyy outlined what he said his country needed to feel secure, which included a “strong Ukrainian army” through weapons sales and training. The second part, he said, would depend on the outcome of Monday’s talks and what EU countries, NATO and the US would be able to guarantee to the war-torn country.
Trump stopped short of committing US troops to the effort, saying instead that there would be a “NATO-like” security presence but that all those details would be hashed out in their afternoon meeting with EU leaders.
“They want to give protection and they feel very strongly about it and we’ll help them out with that,” Trump said. “I think its very important to get the deal done.” (AP) RD RD
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
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