President Donald Trump, alongside Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky and European allies, convened at the White House to discuss recent concessions made by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding security assurances tied to Ukraine’s potential NATO membership as part of a future peace agreement.

In a social media update, Trump shared that he reached out to Putin following the meeting, aiming to facilitate a subsequent discussion between the Russian leader and Zelensky. He mentioned that the three of them would meet after that initial conversation.

Previously, during the last administration, Zelensky and Western European leaders considered Putin’s acceptance of security pledges a crucial advancement towards halting the conflict that has lasted for three years.

The rising ties between Ukraine and the West, particularly concerning NATO membership, had been a significant source of friction between Ukraine and Russia before the conflict escalated.

According to Trump, Putin acknowledged some agreement following discussions held in Alaska last week.

Trump expressed optimism, stating that the challenges faced during the Alaska Summit only reinforced his belief in the possibility of achieving peace. “A critical development, President Putin concurred with the idea of recognizing Ukraine’s security measures,” he noted before a gathering in the East Room.

Trump and Zelensky held a private meeting in the Oval Office, followed by a more extensive meeting with several European leaders in the East Room.

Zelensky described his encounter with Trump as his best yet, expressing enthusiasm about the potential for security guarantees. “We discussed this, and it’s crucial that the U.S. is ready to deliver a strong signal of support for our security,” he stated.

Among those present were NATO Executive Director Mark Latte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

“Like Article 5”

Various European allies underscored the importance of Ukraine’s security assurances, drawing parallels to NATO’s Article 5, which mandates collective defense among member nations.

Von der Leyen commented, “It’s encouraging to see that we are progressing on security assurances similar to Article 5; this is really important.”

The next phase of the peace dialogue is set to involve a direct meeting between Putin and Zelensky, with the possibility of Trump’s inclusion as well.

Trump mentioned that he intended to communicate “indirectly” with Putin and had reached out after meeting with European leaders.

Do you need a ceasefire?

Prior to his meeting with Putin, Trump advocated for a ceasefire as a pathway toward a sustainable resolution to the conflict. However, he emerged from the Alaska Summit leaning towards Putin’s stance that such a ceasefire might not be a prerequisite for a final agreement.

On Monday, Trump expressed hope for a ceasefire that could soon lead to reduced violence, though he indicated that in a diplomatic context, it might not be strictly essential. He noted past U.S. efforts in negotiating terms for various conflicts often stalled without a temporary ceasefire.

“Ideally, we would all prefer an immediate ceasefire while we address lasting peace,” he remarked. “But I’m not sure if it’s absolutely necessary.”

German Chancellor Merz countered this by suggesting that a ceasefire should be required before any meeting between Putin and Zelensky could occur. “I can’t envision the next discussion happening without a ceasefire,” Merz stated, urging for pressure on Russia, as the credibility of current efforts hinges on initiating serious negotiations with a ceasefire in place.

A smooth meeting with Zelensky in a suit

During the public portion of talks, Trump and Zelensky appeared to enjoy a friendly rapport, especially in contrast to their previous exchanges where Trump had critiqued Zelensky for not valuing U.S. assistance adequately.

Back in February, Trump had bluntly told Zelensky that he “has no cards” to negotiate with Russia or to make demands on the U.S.

However, in a more amicable tone on Monday, Trump sidestepped a reporter’s question about which countries possessed “better cards.”

Zelensky was also noted for wearing an all-black suit, following a comment from a Pro-Trump Media writer about his choice of military-style attire during a February meeting. “You look great in that suit,” the writer said, to which Trump chimed in, “I said the same thing.”