President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet in Washington on Monday, marking their first encounter since a fiery Oval Office confrontation in February that saw the US leader accuse his Ukrainian counterpart of “gambling with World War Three.”
The meeting comes after Zelensky held a “long and substantive conversation” with Trump following the American president’s Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin on Friday, which failed to produce a concrete peace deal. The Ukrainian leader said the call, including about an hour of bilateral discussion, lasted more than an hour and a half.
We support President Trump’s proposal for a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the USA, and Russia,” Zelensky wrote on social media. “Ukraine emphasises that key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this.”
February’s Heated Exchange Still Looms Large
Monday’s meeting marks a crucial moment in US-Ukraine relations, which reached a nadir during their last Oval Office encounter on 28 February. During that extraordinary meeting, Trump berated Zelensky for being ungrateful for American support and warned him he was “gambling with the lives of millions of people.”
The confrontation erupted after Vice President JD Vance suggested that the path to peace required diplomacy with Russia. When Zelensky pushed back, citing Putin’s history of breaking agreements, Vance shot back: “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media right now.”
Trump then intervened with a blistering rebuke: “We’re going to feel very good and we have very strong influence. You’re right now not in a very good position, you’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position. You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now with us. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War Three.”
The meeting ended abruptly, with Zelensky and his delegation being asked to leave the White House without signing a planned rare earth minerals deal. Trump later posted on social media that Zelensky was “not ready for Peace if America is involved.”
European Leaders Rally Behind Ukraine
In response to the Washington debacle, European leaders swiftly moved to show solidarity with Ukraine. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted an emergency summit in London where leaders pledged to create a “coalition of the willing” to support Ukraine’s security.
Following Friday’s Alaska summit, European leaders issued a joint statement emphasising that “Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The statement, signed by leaders including Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, and Friedrich Merz, welcomed Trump’s efforts whilst maintaining firm support for Ukraine.
Trump wrote on Truth Social after the Alaska meeting: “A great and very successful day in Alaska! It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up.
Security Guarantees Remain Key Sticking Point
The central issue dividing Washington and Kyiv remains the question of security guarantees. Zelensky has consistently insisted that any peace deal must include robust protections against future Russian aggression, a position strongly backed by European allies.
“It is important that Europeans are involved at every stage to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America,” Zelensky said, thanking Trump for Monday’s invitation whilst emphasising the need for allied involvement.
European leaders have proposed deploying peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of any settlement, with both Britain and France offering to contribute forces. However, they insist this must be backed by American security guarantees, something Trump has been reluctant to provide explicitly.
Putin’s Warning to Europe
Following the Alaska summit, Putin warned European leaders and Zelensky not to interfere with “emerging progress” in peace negotiations. The Russian leader insisted that for the war to end, Moscow’s “fundamental threats to our security” must be addressed.
“We expect that Kyiv and European capitals will perceive all this in a constructive manner and will not create any obstacles, will not make attempts to disrupt the emerging progress through provocations and behind-the-scenes intrigues,” Putin said.
Despite the lack of a concrete agreement in Alaska, Trump described the meeting as “extremely productive” where “many points were agreed to.” He confirmed plans to call Zelensky and NATO leaders to brief them on the discussions.
Starmer Praises Trump’s Efforts
Prime Minister Starmer, who spoke with Trump before issuing a joint European statement, said the President’s efforts to end the conflict should be “commended.” However, he added a warning about maintaining pressure on Russia.
In the meantime, until he stops his barbaric assault, we will keep tightening the screws on his war machine with even more sanctions, which have already had a punishing impact on the Russian economy and its people,” Starmer said.
The Prime Minister joined two separate calls on Saturday morning – first with Trump, Zelensky and other European leaders, then a second call with Zelensky and European leaders only, before issuing both joint statements and a UK-specific message.
High Stakes for Monday’s Meeting
Monday’s Washington meeting represents a critical juncture for Ukraine as it enters its fourth year of war with Russia. The February confrontation left US-Ukraine relations at their lowest point since the invasion began, with some observers warning that Moscow and Washington might reach a deal “over the heads of Ukrainians.”
The meeting will test whether the two leaders can move past their previous acrimony and find common ground on ending the war. Trump has repeatedly expressed confidence that a deal can be reached, whilst Zelensky continues to insist that any agreement must protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin,” Trump wrote. “Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The international community will be watching closely to see whether Monday’s meeting can bridge the gap between Trump’s desire for a quick peace deal and Ukraine’s demands for security guarantees, or whether it will deepen the rift that emerged so dramatically in February.
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Image Credit (Shortened):
Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting Donald Trump in Paris (7 Dec 2024) – by President.gov.ua, licensed under CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
