Putin and Zelensky have allegedly agree to talk, no dates set.
Trump met with Zelensky and the leaders of Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Finland to discuss Ukraine’s war with Russia.
Trump Snaps an Unusual White House ‘Family Photo’ With Top European Officials
Trump stood in the middle of the photo, flanked by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to his right and French President Emmanuel Macron to his left. Leaders from France, Italy, the U.K., Finland, the EU and Nato were also there.
European Leaders Praise Trump
“Something has changed, thanks to you,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said to President Trump. “If we want to reach peace and if we want to guarantee justice, we have to do it united.” She said security guarantees are a vital part of the conversation. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed such remarks.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Trump had opened the door to a resolution but noted complicated next steps. “Let’s try to put pressure on Russia,” he said, advocating a cease-fire to emerge from whatever meeting comes next. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a top priority in addition to ending the war was returning Ukrainian children held in Russia.
‘We’ll Journey Together,’ Trump Tells Europeans
“I think President Putin wants to find an answer too—we’ll see,” Trump said. “We’ll journey together … It’s possible it might not be able to be done. On the other hand, it’s possible.”
The Sartorial Evolution of Volodymyr Zelensky: From Olive Drab to Black Suit
Zelensky’s decision not to wear a suit at the two leaders’ February meeting in Washington sparked a testy exchange. The White House requested that Zelensky wear a suit and tie for Monday’s meeting.
Zelensky showed up wearing a black suit-style jacket. The same reporter who had questioned his attire in February, Brian Glenn of Real America’s Voice, complimented his look: “You look fabulous in that suit.”
Zelensky Thanks Trump More Than a Dozen Times in Latest White House Visit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was thankful over a dozen times during public remarks with President Trump at the White House on Monday.
Trump had criticized Zelensky during a previous meeting in February for not expressing sufficient gratitude.
Trump Pauses White House Meeting, Saying He’s Going to Call Putin
President Trump paused his White House meeting with European leaders Monday afternoon, saying he was going to call Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to two senior European officials at the meeting.
Trump had flagged earlier Monday that he would speak to Putin to brief him on discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the European leaders. He is aiming to set up a three-way summit with Putin and Zelensky in the coming days to forge a pathway to ending the war in Ukraine.
Trump’s Hot Mic Moment on Putin: ‘I Think He Wants to Make a Deal for Me’
President Trump was caught on a hot mic saying he thinks Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to reach an agreement over the war in Ukraine. “I think he wants to make a deal for me. You understand that? As crazy as it sounds,” he said in audio captured by CNN at the White House Monday.
‘I Love It’: Zelensky’s Suit Sends a Message in Washington
“I love it,” President Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when he arrived at the White House on Monday for a high-stakes meeting.
Trump was talking about Zelensky’s suit. When the Ukrainian leader emerged from his vehicle, he was wearing a blazer-style jacket, collared shirt (no tie), pants and combat boots, all in his favored black. The patch-pocket jacket, crafted from army canvas fabric, came from Viktoranisimov, the Ukrainian label whose clothes he’s worn exclusively for most of this year, according to a representative for the brand.
It seemed to land with its audience: outside the White House, Trump gave Zelensky a good once-over, gesturing at his get-up like a proud grandfather.
Trump Pushes for Peace Summit With U.S., Russia and Ukraine
President Trump on Monday urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet face to face at a peace conference he would convene in a long shot bid to end the 3½-year-long war in Ukraine.
The plan represents a bold and potentially risky maneuver by Trump to move toward settling the bloody war without achieving a cease-fire first and with Kyiv and Moscow still seemingly far apart on the terms of a final deal.
Trump touted the idea for the peace conference during an Oval Office meeting with Zelensky and in talks with European leaders who joined the Ukrainian president at the White House on Monday. He said he would put the idea directly to Putin in a call, and paused his meeting with the leaders to do so, according to European officials. The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Trump Says He Is Making Arrangements With Putin for Meetings With Zelensky
President Trump said he spoke Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a bid to set up a pair of high-level meetings aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
Trump said he started making arrangements with Putin for a bilateral meeting between the Russian leader and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. After that meeting, Trump said he hopes to hold a trilateral meeting that will include himself and the Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
Kremlin Doesn’t Commit to Trilateral Meeting
Russia said that President Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed continuing negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv but the Kremlin didn’t commit to a leaders meeting.
“The presidents spoke in favor of continuing direct negotiations between the delegations of the Russian Federation and Ukraine,” Russian state news agency TASS quoted the Kremlin as saying. “Putin and Trump discussed the idea of raising the level of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations.”
NATO Leader Says Putin Agrees to Meet With Zelensky
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Rutte shared details of a phone call between Putin and President Trump on Monday, held in the middle of a meeting between the American president and top European officials, including Rutte. “He was able, in a conversation with President Putin, to have Putin to agree to first a meeting between Putin and Zelensky. So they will now discuss where that meeting will take place in the run up to the trilateral,” Rutte said on Fox News Monday. The Kremlin hasn’t committed to a meeting with Trump, Putin and Zelensky.
Zelensky Says There’s No Date for Potential Talks With Putin
“We don’t have any date,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters about a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
President Trump said he hopes to hold a trilateral meeting with himself and the Russian and Ukrainian leaders. Zelensky, speaking outside the White House after the day’s meetings, said Ukraine was ready for a trilateral meeting. “Ukraine will never stop on the way to peace,” he said, and was ready for any kind of meeting format, but added that it had to be “on the level of leaders.”
I suspect we have a severe communications issue about what has been agreed to or not, especially if Rutte is getting his ideas second-hand from Trump.
Regardless, this meeting went as well as could possibly have been expected. This is in stark contrast to the previous two meetings.
So congrats to team Trump and Zelensky.
Now, it’s wait and see what comes of it.
