US President Donald Trump is set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a host of European leaders in Washington on Monday for a high-stakes meeting aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. The meeting marks the first encounter between Trump and Zelensky since their heated Oval Office exchange earlier this year, and comes on the heels of Trump’s recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
A Shift in Tone: From Ceasefire to Peace Deal
During the Alaska summit, Trump dropped his earlier demand for a ceasefire and instead pushed for a permanent peace agreement. A senior US envoy later revealed that Putin had tentatively agreed to a NATO-like security arrangement for Ukraine, a potential breakthrough in long-stalled negotiations.
“BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED!” Trump posted on his Truth Social account.
According to US envoy Steve Witkoff, the proposed security pact includes Article 5-style protection—a reference to NATO’s collective defence principle—for Ukraine, potentially as an alternative to full NATO membership. Putin, who has long opposed Ukraine joining NATO, reportedly indicated he could accept this arrangement “if the Ukrainians can live with it.”
Who’s Attending the Washington Talks?
The Monday meeting in Washington will include:
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
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UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
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French President Emmanuel Macron
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
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Finnish President Alexander Stubb
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
While it remains unclear how many will attend the White House session itself, the urgency and scale of this gathering—organized with very little notice—are being viewed as unprecedented in modern wartime diplomacy.
Behind the Curtain: Tensions and Repair
This diplomatic momentum follows a series of ups and downs in US-Ukraine relations. In February, a tense Oval Office meeting ended with Trump accusing Zelensky of “gambling with World War Three.” Since then, European leaders have worked to mediate and rebuild ties, coaching Zelensky to adopt a deal-making tone that resonates better with Trump.
A turning point came in July with what Zelensky described as “the best conversation we have had” in a call with Trump. Ukraine had earlier signed a minerals agreement giving the US financial stakes in the country and pledged to pay for US weapons.
What Russia Wants?
During the Alaska talks, Putin reportedly demanded that Ukraine cede Donetsk and Luhansk, which make up the disputed Donbas region. Trump relayed this to Zelensky, claiming Putin offered to freeze frontlines if Kyiv surrendered the region.
On Saturday, Trump bluntly stated that Ukraine should accept a deal because
“Russia is a very big power, and they’re not.”
However, at Sunday’s virtual summit with NATO allies, Zelensky firmly reiterated that Ukraine’s constitution prohibits giving up territory, and that such a decision could only be made in a direct US-Ukraine-Russia trilateral summit.
Steve Witkoff told CNN that in addition to the NATO-style pact, Russia had made concessions on five contested regions. Meanwhile, leaders like Macron emphasized a united European front ahead of Monday’s meeting.
“We were able to win a key concession,” Witkoff said. “A potential security agreement with the US and Europe to protect Ukraine post-war could be game-changing.”
While Russia continues its advance on the battlefield—now occupying nearly a fifth of Ukraine—the upcoming meeting may determine the future path of peace, diplomacy, or deeper conflict.
