Zelenskyy to meet Trump after Putin briefing

Ukraine's president travels to Washington for talks with Trump after a briefing on the Alaska summit, marking his first White House return since a February clash.

Zelenskyy to meet Trump after Putin briefing

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy will fly to Washington on Monday to meet Donald Trump after a telephone call in which Trump briefed him on the Alaska summit. The meeting will be Zelenskiy’s first return to the White House since a tense exchange with Trump in February. Zelenskiy said the one on one conversation was long and substantive and that Trump informed him about his meeting with Vladimir Putin and the main points of their discussion. Zelenskiy added that Ukraine backs a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin. European leaders joined the call for about 30 minutes, underscoring a belief that Europe must participate in shaping security guarantees with the United States. There were positive signals from the United States regarding participation in Ukraine’s security guarantees.

There were no public details on possible steps ahead, such as a ceasefire or other measures. The United States has not publicly defined how it would help prevent new fighting, prompting questions about how much of the burden would rest with Europe. The visit signals continued alignment between Washington and Kyiv, but it also leaves open how much concrete progress is possible before any formal agreement or summit.

The trip tests a core question in wartime diplomacy: can a personal meeting move policy when politics at home swirl around a volatile conflict? The Alaska briefing shows how back channel talks blend with high level rhetoric, even as public tone differs between leaders. The story highlights patience as a political tool and the danger of overpromising in a fraught moment.

Another layer is the political calendar. If Trump remains a potent factor in the US scene, Kyiv must gauge not only the map but the mood in Washington. The return to the White House signals resilience for Ukraine, yet it also raises expectations for concrete steps that space or time may not deliver quickly. The real test will be whether these talks translate into steady guarantees rather than headline grabbing statements.

Highlights

Diplomacy in this moment is a test of trust as much as strategy.