Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has outlined firm conditions for a ‘real peace’ ahead of a high-stakes meeting with President Donald Trump. The meeting, set to take place on Monday, marks Zelenskyy’s first return to the Oval Office since February when Trump publicly criticized him for being ‘disrespectful’ during a press briefing, which resulted in the collapse of a U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal. During a call with Trump and European leaders on Saturday, Zelenskyy detailed the need for a lasting peace, emphasizing the cessation of hostilities, the release of prisoners and civilians, and the return of children abducted by Russia. He warned that thousands of Ukrainians remain in captivity and that pressure on Russia must continue as long as the aggression and occupation persist.
Trump, following his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, has also called for a peace agreement rather than a ceasefire, believing that this approach would ultimately solve the conflict and save millions of lives. The White House is hopeful that the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy will lead to further progress and potentially a meeting with Putin. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have expressed support for Trump’s peace initiative but have insisted on ‘ironclad’ security guarantees for Ukraine to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. They have stated that Ukraine should decide its own path to EU and NATO membership without Russian interference.
During his visit to Washington, Trump has also emphasized the importance of Zelenskyy’s role in achieving a resolution, while acknowledging the involvement of European nations. Despite the high stakes of the meeting, both Trump and Zelenskyy have expressed cautious optimism, with Trump calling the recent summit with Putin a ‘successful meeting’ with ‘a lot of progress’ made. However, the path to a lasting peace remains uncertain, and the threat of continued Russian aggression looms over the negotiations. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, hoping for a breakthrough that could end the ongoing conflict and bring stability to the region.