Five conclusions about the meeting between Trump and Zelenski

Summit in the White House with Europeans gives promises of the next steps that a peace agreement should go to the paper. Cesar-Fogo leaves the table, and Trilateral Agreement with Putin gains strength.

The journey of US President Donald Trump to receive Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukraine’s, Volodimir Zelenski, and a group of European leaders in US territory at a four -day break marks a new moment in Ukraine war negotiations. This Monday (18/08), the presence of the Ukrainian in Washington signaled a change of direction of the White House, whose military and financial power weighs on peace dealings.

Since the beginning of the war in 2022, when the first Russian soldiers crossed the Donbass border, the East Region that became the epicenter of the conflict and negotiations, Ukraine requires safety guarantees against Russian aggression.

At the time, under the Joe Biden, US and Europe government, they established a policy of evaluations and military support to Ukraine. Several negotiation attempts have been opened since, always without clear results, with Ukraine insisting that their number one demand would be an active guarantee of military support against Russian aggression.

Upon taking power, Trump began to promise a quick end to war. With Putin’s closest relationship history than his predecessor, the US president opened a direct line of contact with the Russian. Europe was stunned, and the tensions between the US and Ukraine reached their peak during Zelenski’s first visit to the White House when he argued with Trump in front of the reporters and saw Washington suspending arms to his country.

In the current round of negotiations, however, the US president changed from Tom, received Zelenski with humorous comments and responded to reporters more aligned with the Ukrainian. Analysts are unanimous in understanding that the outcome of discussions is still inconclusive, but they give guarantees of the next steps that a peace agreement should go to the role.

1. Relations with Europe consolidate even after Putin-Trump Meeting

In diplomacy, high -level negotiations are based on trust, something European leaders insist on Trump that Putin cannot offer. The face -to -face summit with Russian leader in Alaska was sold by the US president as essential for peace. The reporters, he argued that he could identify in two minutes if Putin was actually interested in ending the war.

In a sign of greater alignment, societies were won by Trump days after Putin | Aaron Schwartz/UPI Photo/Newscom/Picture Alliance

The balance was of a few advances. The summit frustrated the European leaders who expected an immediate ceasefire and eventually occurred under Putin’s terms. The meeting gave status to the Russian leader, who was received with a literal red carpet and validated his thesis that he is not isolated from the international community.

On the other hand, it showed a relative unit of the so-called Pro-Ucroan coalition, a group of Europeans leaders for France, the United Kingdom and Germany, who closely follows the paths of war and pressured by pro-kiev solutions.

The leaders presented their demands to Trump before the meeting with Putin and were invited to the consequent meeting at the White House, along with Zelenski, on Monday.

In Washington, Europeans emphasized that there are common points in their position with the US, even on still open issues. Reporters, British Prime Minister Keir Stmerr said there was a “real feeling of unity and progress.”

“And this is the recognition of the principle that, in some of these issues, whether the territory, the change of prisoners or the very serious theme of children’s return, Ukraine needs to be at the table,” Stmerer said.

2. Focus is “Firm Peace”; Territorial question still open

Despite unity statements, the defense of leaders such as German federal chancellor Friedrich Merz for a ceasefire is immediately off the table to Trump. “I do not ceasefire. I like the concept, but strategically I could be a disadvantage. I make these agreements without thinking about ceasing fire,” the American told journalists, arguing that these negotiations need to result in definitive peace.

The strategy is seen with suspicion by Zelenski, who believes that such a model would allow Putin to advance further in the Ukrainian territory while the negotiations occurred, gaining future advantage.

Speaking on social networks, Trump seems to have accepted the idea that the transfer of the Donbass region to Russia is the way to peace. Zelenski, on the other hand, argues that the negotiation is part of the current front line. Today Russia does not occupy the entire eastern area of ​​Ukraine, despite recent lightning attacks.

3. Security guarantees for Ukraine are at the table; adherence to NATO,

If previously Trump has not shown a willingness to assume a role in safety guarantees for Ukraine, now Zelenski has won from the American a verbal, albeit evasive commitment that he will participate in protection solutions for the president the Ukrainian territory.

Asked by reporters, Trump said that “we will give them good protection and safety” without specifying which model. Ukraine calls for adherence to the organization of the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO), which has already been rejected by the American.

Negotiations around the summit in Washington expanded discourse unit between European leaders and Ukraine | John Macdougall/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Trump’s advisor Steve Witkoff indicated the possibility of the US granting a protection similar to article 5 of NATO, which allows shared defense in case of aggression. The United Kingdom has already proposed to send peace troops to ensure a safe transition. Zelenski left the meeting promising to soon present his security demands to make an agreement with Moscow viable.

4. Is a trilateral meeting possible?

Classified as “personal diplomacy”, the traditional way of conducting international agreements is one of Zelenski’s wishes, who believes only to be able to extract the permitted nuances for an understanding by personally meeting with Putin.

So far the Russian leader has not accepted such a proposal, but the pressure for a meeting between the two rivals and the US has increased after the White House meetings.

Trump called Putin during the meeting with the Europeans and, according to Friedrich Merz, collected the Russian that a meeting with Zelenski could happen within two weeks.

“I called President Putin and started preparations for a meeting, at a place yet to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenski. After this meeting, we will have a trilateral, which will include both presidents and me,” Trump told reporters.

In one statement, Kremlin said only that he is open to the idea of ​​direct negotiations, without detailing if he will agree with the proposal.

5. Trump wants American industry without agreement

Asked if he will continue to send help to Ukraine, Trump has only argued that he is willing to sell weapons to the Ukrainians. Zelenski reiterated that the issue of air defense was discussed in the security guarantee agenda and that Ukraine has an interest in US Patriot systems.

According to Zelenski, Ukraine could commit to buying $ 90 billion at US aircraft and air defense systems through Europe, while the US would invest in Ukrainian drones, whose national industry gains more and more space in the defense market.

Originally published by DW on 08/19/2025