Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Monday to discuss efforts aimed at ending the war with Russia.
The development comes just days after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska for nearly three hours, their first in-person meeting in years.
Speaking Saturday, Zelenskyy revealed that he and Trump had already held an extended phone call lasting over 90 minutes while Trump was aboard Air Force One returning from Alaska.
According to the Ukrainian leader, the conversation initially began as a one-on-one dialogue before several European leaders joined in.
Zelenskyy praised Trump’s willingness to engage in direct talks aimed at securing a cease-fire and ultimately a broader peace agreement.
“Ukraine reaffirms its readiness to work with maximum effort to achieve peace,” Zelenskyy posted on X. “President Trump informed about his meeting with the Russian leader and the main points of their discussion. It is important that America’s strength has an impact on the development of the situation.”
Trump, for his part, confirmed that he would be open to arranging a trilateral summit involving himself, Zelenskyy, and Putin, if Monday’s Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy goes smoothly.
“If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin. Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The call between Trump and Zelenskyy was later joined by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and several prominent European heads of state, including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
According to a joint statement issued after the discussion, the leaders voiced strong support for Trump’s push to end the conflict through a permanent peace agreement rather than a fragile cease-fire.
“Leaders welcomed President Trump’s efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine, end Russia’s war of aggression and achieve just and lasting peace,” the group said, via the UK Government website. “Ukraine can count on our unwavering solidarity as we work towards a peace that safeguards Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests.”
Zelenskyy also emphasized the importance of continued European involvement, urging the continent’s leaders to remain active partners alongside Washington. “It is important that Europeans are involved at every stage to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America,” Zelenskyy noted. He also hinted at “positive signals” from the American side regarding long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Trump and Putin both described their Alaska meeting as productive, though neither disclosed specific details. Trump told reporters that “great progress” had been made but cautioned that “there’s no deal until there’s a deal.”
Putin echoed this, saying the two leaders had reached an “understanding” and expressing hope that it would lead not only to peace in Ukraine but also to improved U.S.-Russia relations.
As the world awaits the outcome of Monday’s White House meeting, anticipation is growing over whether a breakthrough is truly within reach or if the conflict will continue dragging on.