In contrast to the acrimonious meeting earlier this year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump appeared calm and tried to avoid confrontation at their White House meeting, the BBC reports.
Zelensky was dressed in a suit, and Trump complimented him on his attire. The Ukrainian president thanked him repeatedly, which clearly pleased the US president. Zelensky was not overly talkative, perhaps to avoid saying something that might contradict what Trump wanted to hear. However, later, when the two appeared before reporters alongside European leaders, their differences were more pronounced.
Both German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron said a ceasefire should be the next step. Trump, however, argued that it was not necessary before a more lasting solution was found.
What the leaders said suggested that the talks, which took place behind closed doors, mainly concerned security guarantees for Ukraine and a possible meeting between Zelensky and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
It was not disclosed what guarantees were discussed
or how Putin’s presence at the negotiating table could help end the war.
Zelensky described the security guarantees as a starting point for ending the war. At a press conference outside the White House, the Ukrainian president said that the security guarantees could include a 90 billion dollar arms deal between the United States and Kiev. Although no formal agreement has been reached yet, Zelensky predicted that it could happen within the next ten days.
The Ukrainian president also said he was ready to meet Putin face to face, and if Moscow agreed, Trump could also participate. So far, the Russian dictator has refused to meet with Zelensky. “Ukraine will not stop moving towards peace,” Zelensky said.
One of the issues that the leaders did not want to discuss with journalists was the possible giving of Ukrainian territory to the Russians. Zelensky said that he showed Trump a map of Ukraine, emphasizing that Russia had managed to occupy only 1% of Ukraine’s territory in the past thousand days.
Zelensky generally seemed positive, and described the meeting with Trump as “warm.” However, his optimism seemed deliberately emphasized.
Perhaps the main benefit of this visit was the opportunity to buy some more time for Ukraine. Trump’s call to Putin after his first meeting with European leaders suggests that Russia has managed to do the same.
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