President Trump and Zelensky Meeting at the White House to talk about the war and a possible end to it. The meeting was watched by people all over the world. A lot of European leaders were at the meeting. This was seen as an important step toward fixing the tense relationship between Kyiv and Washington.
It was important to Zelenskyy on a personal level. In February, on his last visit, things went badly. There was a heated argument in the Oval Office, and Trump and Zelensky Meeting ended early. Aid was frozen for days, and trust between the two sides collapsed. Coming back now, Zelenskyy knew he had to change the tone.
This time he left behind his trademark military-style outfit. Instead, he arrived in a dark suit, presenting himself less as a wartime commander and more as a head of state ready to negotiate. The change in image matched his message — he came with fewer demands and more thanks.
Right from the start, Zelenskyy leaned on gratitude. He thanked Trump again and again in his opening remarks. He also handed over a personal letter from his wife to Melania Trump. Aides later said the gestures were meant to soften the atmosphere and avoid the kind of hostility that derailed the February meeting.
“I come here not only as the leader of a country at war, but as a partner who wants peace,” Zelenskyy told reporters. His words, calmer and more careful than before, landed well with Trump, who called the talks “very positive” and “constructive.” European leaders in the room nodded, eager to move the discussion toward a ceasefire plan.
The Ceasefire Debate
Central to the talks was the question of a ceasefire. European leaders pressed hard for a structured halt to hostilities between Ukraine and Russia/ They argue that no sustainable peace framework could advance without a pause in fighting. Macron and von der Leyen reportedly framed the plan as “a bridge to security,” envisioning a ceasefire monitored by international observers alongside new guarantees of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Trump, however, showed ambivalence. While he reiterated his desire to end what he called “a very long and tragic war,” he questioned whether a ceasefire would work in practice. “We need peace, absolutely, but we also need reality,” Trump told reporters. “If you have a ceasefire that Russia doesn’t respect, then you don’t have peace. You have paper.”
Behind closed doors, Trump put forward an alternative: stronger security guarantees for Ukraine from the U.S. and Europe. Security similar to NATO’s Article 5 pledge but not actually joining NATO. According to people who were briefed on the talks, Trump also brought up the idea of a summit with Zelenskyy, Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, no date or plan was set for the conference.
Ukraine’s Position
For Zelenskyy, the question of a truce is touchy. For a long time, Kyiv has been against any breaks in the fighting that would give Moscow time to gather its troops and make new positions. But Zelenskyy has shown more flexibility because soldiers are tired of fighting and Western backing is falling.
Officials close to the Ukrainian delegation said Zelenskyy sees a ceasefire as viable only if it is paired with robust guarantees of territorial integrity and future military assistance. “He knows the risks,” one senior aide told reporters. “But he also knows that without the U.S. and Europe on board, Ukraine cannot sustain this war indefinitely.”
The Europeans were unusually unified in Washington. Macron, Starmer, and von der Leyen all echoed each other in public remarks, urging an end to the fighting as the precondition for long-term stability. Even Merz, a conservative German politician critical of some EU policies, aligned with the group’s call for a ceasefire.
“It is time to test whether a ceasefire can hold,” Starmer said. “This is not about surrender, it is about strategy. Europe cannot allow endless war on its doorstep.”
No Breakthrough, But a New Tone
Despite the hopeful language, no binding agreements were signed. The talks ended with a joint communiqué highlighting “progress toward peace” and a commitment to “further discussions in coming weeks.” Both sides described the atmosphere as “constructive,” a notable departure from the chaos of February.
For Trump, the summit was an opportunity to reframe his approach after months of criticism that he was undermining Ukraine’s war effort. For Zelenskyy, it was a chance to reset relations with the White House.
“This meeting showed that we can speak to each other not as adversaries but as partners,” Zelenskyy said before departing Washington.
Whether the ceasefire plan advances remains uncertain. Russia has given no indication it would accept such an arrangement, and Trump’s skepticism leaves the proposal in limbo. Still, diplomats say the simple fact that the conversation has shifted toward peace is itself a sign of progress.
As one European official put it after the talks, “In February, the question was whether Ukraine and the United States could even talk. In August, the question is how they talk about ending the war. That is a very different place to be.” Recently, Trump had met with Russian president Putin. For more information read https://bizmarhaba.com/trump-and-putin-summit-2025-u-s-and-russia-hold-tense-talks/
