President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Monday in what was billed as a crucial moment in the push to end a war that has dragged on for more than three and a half years.
The Trump-Zelensky White House meeting pulled in some of Europe’s biggest political players, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
The scene could not have been more different from February’s Oval Office blow-up, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelensky in a tense exchange that left allies rattled. This time the tone was polite, even warm. Trump praised Zelensky, telling reporters that “while difficult, peace is within reach.” Zelensky returned the favor, calling the conversation “really good” – a far cry from the earlier debacle. European leaders also joined the chorus of cautious optimism. Rutte said he was “really excited” about the prospects for peace, while Starmer talked up a chance of “real progress toward a just and lasting outcome.”
But beneath the smiles and handshakes, not much changed. The Trump-Zelensky White House meeting produced no real details, no concrete road map, and no binding commitments. Trump dangled the idea of an imminent trilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin to hammer out the toughest issues, but offered no specifics on what compromises might be in play. Zelensky hinted he might be willing to discuss territorial changes but stopped short of saying how far he’d go, leaving everyone guessing.
One thing the Europeans did accomplish was shoring up Zelensky’s position. Their presence in Washington was symbolic as well as strategic. After February’s humiliation, no one wanted a repeat performance. By showing up in force, Macron, Meloni, Merz, Starmer, and von der Leyen projected unity and made it clear that Europe’s backing of Ukraine hasn’t wavered. Meloni, who often strikes a friendlier tone with Trump than some of her counterparts, was blunt: “We are on the side of Ukraine.” Still, lingering fears remain that Trump might lean too far toward Putin, something that worries European capitals deeply.
The debate over a ceasefire is where cracks began to show. Just days earlier in Alaska, Trump shifted closer to Putin’s line, suggesting a full settlement might be better than pausing the war with a temporary ceasefire. Putin, who currently has the battlefield advantage, has no interest in giving Ukraine breathing space. Merz, however, was emphatic that no peace process can move forward without at least a ceasefire in place. “Let’s try to put pressure on Russia,” he urged. Trump’s ambivalence on the issue highlighted a gap that Putin may well exploit in future negotiations.
Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising moment came when Trump vouched for Putin’s intentions. He told Zelensky and the European leaders that “President Putin really would like to do something else. I think you’re going to see some really positive moves.” For allies who view Putin as fundamentally untrustworthy, such statements sparked unease. Even Trump admitted that solving the conflict is far more complex than he once thought. “I thought this was going to be one of the easier ones,” he confessed. “It’s actually one of the most difficult.”
The idea of a trilateral meeting involving Trump, Zelensky and Putin now looms as the next possible turning point. It could be historic, with all three men in one room tackling the war’s thorniest questions head-on. But it also carries huge risks. For Trump, the stakes are personal as well as geopolitical: he could emerge as the dealmaker he always claims to be, or he could look hopelessly naive if Putin runs circles around him. For Zelensky, it could mean painful concessions. And for Putin, it’s an opportunity to test just how far Trump is willing to bend.
The Trump-Zelensky White House meeting gave the world a different picture than the confrontational Oval Office scene earlier this year. The optics were better, the language softer, and the Europeans left Washington reassured that Trump wasn’t going to publicly humiliate their Ukrainian partner again. Yet peace still feels like a distant prospect. Until real commitments are made – on security guarantees, ceasefire terms, or territorial compromises – this conflict remains stuck in the same brutal place it has been for years.
Leo Cruz brings sharp insights into the world of politics, offering balanced reporting and analysis on the latest policies, elections, and global political events. With years of experience covering campaigns and interviewing world leaders, Leo ensures readers are always informed and engaged.
