Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed on Monday (August 18) in Washington that he is ready to work towards ending the war. On that day, he met with U.S. President Trump in the Oval Office of the White House to discuss the prospects for peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Following a meeting with U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, Zelensky wrote on social media, “Russia can only be forced towards peace by external forces, and President Trump possesses such power.”
Trump has recently emphasized the need to “swiftly end the bloodiest war in Europe in eighty years.” He met with Russian President Putin in Alaska last Friday (15th) to discuss a potential peace framework. Trump wrote on Truth Social, “I know exactly what I am doing and do not need the advice of those who have been dealing with conflicts for years without being able to stop the war.”
In addition to the U.S.-Ukraine talks, several European leaders arrived in Washington, D.C. to meet with Trump in the East Room of the White House at 3 p.m. local time, including leaders from the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Finland, the EU, and NATO. European leaders emphasized the need to secure stronger security guarantees for Ukraine in the post-war arrangements.
The Trump team reiterated on Sunday that any peace plan must be built on a basis of compromise from both sides. Trump explicitly proposed that Ukraine drop its demand to reclaim Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, and commit to never joining NATO. Trump emphasized on social media, “Zelensky could almost immediately end this war if he so chooses, or he can choose to continue the fight.”
Regarding the proposals made by Putin at the Alaska summit, including Ukraine surrendering control of parts of Donetsk still held by Ukrainian forces, Zelensky has largely rejected them and stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate deeper negotiations. Trump leans more towards a comprehensive agreement that aligns with Russia’s desire to end the war.
For Ukraine and its allies, one of the highlights of the Alaska summit was Trump’s willingness to consider providing post-war security guarantees for Ukraine. This became a focal point of attention for European leaders during their visit.
(This article is based on reports from Reuters)