Zelenskiy to Visit Washington as Trump Briefs European Leaders After Putin Summit

WASHINGTON:  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Saturday that he will travel to Washington on Monday for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, following the latter’s high-stakes summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Trump-Putin meeting, closely watched by global leaders, ended without any agreement to halt or resolve the ongoing war in Ukraine. Both leaders, however, described the talks as “productive” before departing.

On his return flight to Washington, Trump held an extended phone call with Zelenskiy lasting more than 90 minutes, which Zelenskiy described as “long and substantive.” The U.S. president also briefed key NATO and European allies, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as leaders from Germany, Finland, Poland, Italy and Britain, the White House confirmed.

Zelenskiy said he and Trump discussed the possibility of a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia, and noted what he called “positive signals” from Washington on America’s role in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security.

“Ukraine emphasizes that key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this. On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war,” Zelenskiy said in a statement posted on X.

According to Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing a source familiar with the call, Trump told Zelenskiy and European leaders that Putin was uninterested in a ceasefire but instead sought a comprehensive settlement to end the war. Trump reportedly added, “I think a fast peace deal is better than a ceasefire.” Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

The developments underscore both the uncertainty and urgency surrounding ongoing diplomatic efforts, with Zelenskiy’s upcoming Washington visit expected to be pivotal in shaping the next steps toward potential peace negotiations.