United States President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and several other high European leaders on Monday started high-stakes talks on the White Home on ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Safety ensures for Kyiv topped the agenda, with European leaders urging Trump to take a tricky stance in opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin to forestall future conflicts.
Earlier than the closed-door session, the leaders expressed optimism concerning the prospects of a peace deal.
Trump stated discussions would concentrate on “who will do what” as a part of the safety ensures for Ukraine and signalled {that a} decision could possibly be reached the identical day.
The US president additionally disclosed that “attainable exchanges of territory” had been on the desk and introduced plans to name Putin to rearrange a trilateral assembly with him and Zelensky.
Trump advised reporters contained in the Oval Workplace that there was a “affordable probability” of ending the conflict if such a gathering had been to be held.
“I believe if all the pieces works out nicely as we speak, we’ll have a trilateral, and I believe there might be an inexpensive probability of ending the conflict after we do this,” he stated.
Whereas reiterating his choice for a peace deal, Trump stated he nonetheless supported the “idea” of a ceasefire.
“I just like the idea of a ceasefire for one purpose: since you’d cease killing individuals instantly, versus in two weeks, or one week, or no matter it takes. We’re engaged on a peace deal, whereas they’re preventing, they must battle. I want they might cease. I’d like them to cease, however strategically, that could possibly be a drawback for one aspect or the opposite,” he stated.
The previous US president added {that a} ceasefire may permit one aspect to rebuild militarily, an element he acknowledged might complicate negotiations.
On his half, Zelensky stated he had a “superb dialog” with Trump earlier within the day. He confirmed that they mentioned “safety ensures and humanitarian considerations” and welcomed the potential for a trilateral assembly with Putin.
“I believe that we had an excellent dialog with President Trump,” Zelensky stated. “We spoke about very delicate factors.”
He thanked Trump and US First Woman Melania Trump for writing a letter to Putin on the plight of Ukraine’s kidnapped youngsters.
Pressed on what safety ensures Ukraine wanted, Zelensky replied, “all the pieces,” stressing that his nation required a robust military, weapons, individuals, coaching, and intelligence.
He added that such assist would depend upon “huge nations” just like the US and its allies.
The Ukrainian chief additionally expressed gratitude for a brand new NATO programme permitting member states to purchase US weapons for Ukraine.
“We’re grateful for this program and this chance. We’re grateful for Europe – they pay for this,” he stated, including that American-made Patriots had been essential for Ukraine’s defence. “No one in Europe has so many air defence (methods like Patriots. We want it very a lot.”
Trump additionally praised the association, noting that the US was not “giving something” instantly however promoting tools to allies backing Kyiv.
In the meantime, European leaders voiced their positions on the peace push.
French President Emmanuel Macron insisted a European chief needs to be a part of any assembly with Putin.
“Once we discuss safety ensures, we discuss the entire safety of the European continent,” he stated.
NATO Secretary-Normal Mark Rutte described Trump’s readiness to assist safety ensures for Ukraine as a “breakthrough” and thanked him for “breaking the impasse” and pushing Putin to the desk.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz known as for a ceasefire earlier than additional talks, whereas Finnish President Alexander Stubb hailed the White Home talks as a turning level.
“Prior to now two weeks, we’ve most likely had extra progress in ending this conflict than we now have prior to now three and a half years,” Stubb stated, noting his nation’s 800-mile border and shared historical past with Russia.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer added that Ukraine’s most important European allies had been “ready to step as much as the plate” to safe Kyiv’s future.
