Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington, DC, on Sunday, ahead of a high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. The bilateral meeting is scheduled for 10:45 pm IST (1:15 pm local time) on Monday.
Zelensky, expressing hope for a decisive breakthrough, said he wanted to end the war with Russia “quickly and reliably.” Taking to X, he noted: “We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting, not like before, when Ukraine gave up Crimea and part of Donbas only for Putin to prepare new attacks.”
The White House confirmed that Trump and Zelensky would first hold a private discussion, followed by a multilateral session with European leaders later in the day. Attendees include UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO chief Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The Washington talks come shortly after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which Trump described as “productive” but without any ceasefire announcement. “We are not there yet, but we have made progress. There is no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump told reporters after that meeting.
Zelensky also recalled Ukraine’s ongoing successes on the battlefield in Donetsk and Sumy, asserting: “We will defend Ukraine, guarantee security, and our people will always be grateful to President Trump, America, and our allies. Russia must end this war.”
The meeting is significant not only for its timing but also for its history. It marks Zelensky’s first return to the Oval Office since the stormy February 28 clash with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, when the leaders exchanged sharp words live on television. Trump and Vance accused Zelensky of ingratitude for US aid, while Zelensky pushed back, warning against appeasing Putin. The public spat strained ties and raised doubts about continued US support for Kyiv.
Now, with European leaders joining forces in Washington, hopes are rising for a coordinated push toward peace — and for stronger security guarantees for Ukraine, a shift that both Kyiv and Europe welcomed on Sunday.
