US President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and seven European leaders at the White House on Monday, following his Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin just three days ago. The high-profile meeting focused on advancing peace in Ukraine after more than three years of conflict.
Donald Trump Gives Zelensky Warm Welcome at Oval Office
President Zelensky arrived at the White House shortly after 1 p.m., dressed in a military-style suit. He met with President Trump in the Oval Office for a cordial discussion, in stark contrast to the tense encounter the two leaders had in February.
Following the initial sit-down, Trump and Zelensky continued discussions behind closed doors. Seven European leaders joined the talks to explore ways to bring an end to Russia’s three-year war in Ukraine.
.@POTUS: “I just spoke to President Putin indirectly, and we’re going to have a phone call right after these meetings today — and we may or may not have a trilat.” pic.twitter.com/dOoGlB8O3T
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 18, 2025
European Leaders Praise Trump’s Peace Efforts
UK Labour leader Keir Starmer said, “I think today will be seen as a very important day in recent years in relation to a conflict which has gone on for three and a bit years, and so far nobody has been able to bring it to this point – so I thank you for that.”
Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer: “I think today will be seen as a very important day in recent years in relation to a conflict which has gone on for three and a bit years, and so far nobody has been able to bring it to this point — so I thank you for that.” pic.twitter.com/9S6C2HX9iU
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 18, 2025
French President Emmanuel Macron added, “Thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this meeting and for your commitment… everybody around this table is in favor of peace… this is why the idea of a trilateral meeting is very important because this is the only way to fix it.”
French President @EmmanuelMacron: “Thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this meeting and for your commitment… everybody around this table is in favor of peace… this is why the idea of a trilateral meeting is very important because this is the only way to fix it.” pic.twitter.com/Yh0DgznGLl
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 18, 2025
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called it “an important day – a new phase – after three years that we didn’t see any kind of sign from the Russian side that they were willing for dialogue, so something is changing – something has changed – thanks to you.”
Prime Minister @GiorgiaMeloni: “It is an important day — a new phase — after three years that we didn’t see any kind of sign from the Russian side that they were willing for dialogue, so something is changing — something has changed — thanks to you.” pic.twitter.com/NuSypQh2T9
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 18, 2025
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, “we had a fantastic NATO Summit… We had the largest trade deal ever – agreed. And now, we are here to work together with you on a… lasting peace for Ukraine. Stop the killing. This is really our common interest.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz observed, “this is extremely helpful that we are meeting and hearing that the two of you are having such a good meeting today. The path is open. You opened it last Friday – but now the way is open for complicated negotiations.”
“This is extremely helpful that we are meeting and hearing that the two of you are having such a good meeting today,” says Chancellor @_FriedrichMerz.
“The path is open. You opened it last Friday — but now the way is open for complicated negotiations.” pic.twitter.com/UIdXHCzYsE
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 18, 2025
What Zelensky Said
President Zelensky expressed satisfaction with the talks, tweeting, “I think that we had a very good conversation with President Trump… it was really good. We spoke about very sensitive points.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr @ZelenskyyUa: “I think that we had a very good conversation with President Trump… it was really good. We spoke about very sensitive points.” pic.twitter.com/MwnAu3mbaJ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 18, 2025
NATO Secretary General also acknowledged Trump’s role in initiating dialogue with Russia.
“I really want to thank you, President of the United States, dear Donald, for the fact that you, as I said before, broke the deadlock basically with President Putin by starting the dialogue … From there, here we are today.”
Finnish President Alexander Stubb added, “I think in the past two weeks, we’ve probably had more progress in ending this war than we have in the past three and a half years.”
Finnish President @alexstubb: “I think in the past two weeks, we’ve probably had more progress in ending this war than we have in the past three and a half years.” pic.twitter.com/7Mysp1DE4d
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 18, 2025
President Trump emphasized the potential for rapid progress, stating, “all of us would obviously prefer an immediate ceasefire while we work on a lasting peace… President Zelensky and President Putin can talk a little bit more about that… But I believe a peace agreement at the end of all of this is something that’s very attainable.”
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
