Trump to Host Zelenskyy at the White House for High-Stakes Peace Talks on Ukraine War
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House on Monday for crucial peace negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The meeting follows Trump’s recent summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, where no peace deal was reached despite initial optimism.
On Sunday, Trump hinted that a quick resolution could be possible if Ukraine agrees to cede the eastern Donbas region to Russia—a proposal that has sparked widespread debate.
European Leaders to Back Ukraine at Washington Talks
Zelenskyy will be accompanied by key European leaders in Washington, DC, who plan to push for Ukraine’s direct role in peace negotiations and ensure any deal includes U.S. security guarantees for Kyiv.
Peace Talks Schedule: Key Timings and Events
The White House peace summit will take place in Washington, DC, with the following schedule:
12:00 PM (16:00 GMT): European leaders arrive at the White House
1:00 PM (17:00 GMT): Ukrainian President Zelenskyy arrives
1:15 PM (17:15 GMT): One-on-one meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office
2:15 PM (18:15 GMT): Trump welcomes European leaders in the State Dining Room
2:30 PM (18:30 GMT): Official group photo in Cross Hall
3:00 PM (19:00 GMT): Multilateral peace talks in the East Room
World Leaders Confirmed for the Summit
The high-level talks will bring together prominent global leaders, including:
Finnish President Alexander Stubb
French President Emmanuel Macron
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte
This summit is expected to be a turning point for Ukraine’s peace process, with the international community watching closely for any breakthroughs.
Key Agenda Item: Putin’s Territorial Demands in Ukraine
A major focus of the upcoming peace talks will be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s territorial claims in Ukraine. So far, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly rejected any proposals involving the ceding of Ukrainian land as part of a potential peace agreement.
Security Guarantees for Ukraine Expected to Dominate Peace Talks
Another key topic on the White House peace summit agenda will be discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine—covering both their framework and implementation.
On Sunday, Steve Witkoff, serving as President Donald Trump’s special envoy, informed CNN that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to permit the United States.
and European allies offer Ukraine NATO-style security protections, modeled after Article 5 of the NATO Charter. Article 5 declares that an attack on one member state is treated as an attack on all member states.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed support for the plan,
affirming that the EU and allied nations are ready to contribute to these security commitments.
Additionally, President Trump is expected to share exclusive insights from his private talks with Putin during the summit, offering leaders a behind-the-scenes look at the negotiation process.
Ukraine Seeks Security Guarantees Amid NATO Membership Stalemate
For years, Ukraine has sought NATO membership to strengthen its national security—an idea Russia has consistently opposed. Experts suggest that U.S.-European security assurances could serve as a practical solution to meet Ukraine’s defense needs while sidestepping the issue of direct NATO membership.
More details on these security assurances are expected once the White House peace talks conclude on Monday.
Meanwhile, on the issue of ceding Ukrainian territory to Russia,
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his opposition in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He cited Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and the invasion of eastern Ukraine as evidence that conceding land only fuels further aggression.
Zelenskyy emphasized: “The situation today is different from years ago, when Ukraine had to surrender Crimea and parts of Donbas—only for Putin to use them as a springboard for new attacks.
Europe Stands Firm on Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity Amid Peace Talks
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, European leaders have expressed deep concerns over any proposal that involves Ukraine giving up territory—fearing it could embolden Moscow to expand its borders beyond Ukraine in the future.
At the upcoming White House peace summit, European leaders are expected to reaffirm support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and firmly oppose any land-for-peace deals that could reward Russia for its aggression.
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Meanwhile,
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer commended U.S. President Donald Trump for his “efforts to end Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine” but stressed that any path to peace must involve Ukraine directly. He also called for tougher sanctions on Russia to further pressure Moscow.
Trump Pressures Ukraine for Peace Deal After Putin Meeting in Alaska
Following his Alaska meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the U.S. President Donald Trump stepped up his push for Ukraine to agree to a peace deal to end Russia’s war, hinting that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could ‘bring the conflict to a swift close’ if certain conditions were met.
Trump made it clear that any negotiated settlement would exclude the return of Russian-occupied Crimea and Ukraine’s NATO membership bid, both long-standing demands of Kyiv.
On Truth Social Sunday, Trump wrote:
“Remember how it startedThere will be no reclaiming of Crimea, which was taken 12 years ago without a single shot fired, and Ukraine will not be joining NATO. Some things never change!!!”
His remarks have raised concerns among European diplomats, many of whom are keen to avoid a repeat of the February incident when Zelenskyy faced public criticism at the White House from both Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who criticized him for showing a lack of gratitude
