Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is greeted by US President Donald Trump (L) upon arrival at the White House West Wing in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2025. European leaders join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in talks with US President Donald Trump on August 18, as they try to find a way to end Russia’s offensive. The leaders heading to Washington on Monday to appear alongside Zelensky call themselves the “coalition of the willing.” (Photo by Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP)
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday warmly welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House, igniting fresh optimism for a potential end to the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
This marked their first meeting since a heated dispute in February, following Trump’s recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Despite ongoing tensions over Trump’s push for Ukraine to cede Crimea and forgo NATO membership, the U.S. leader expressed confidence in resolving the war that began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
“If things go well today, we could have a trilateral meeting, and I believe there’s a solid chance to stop this war,” Trump declared alongside Zelensky in the Oval Office.
Zelensky, supported by a formidable group of European leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, NATO, and the European Commission—self-styled as the “coalition of the willing”—commended Trump’s efforts.
“I deeply appreciate your personal commitment to halting the violence and ending this conflict,” Zelensky stated.
The meeting’s tone was markedly warmer than their February clash, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly criticized Zelensky for insufficient gratitude toward U.S. aid. This time, Trump lightened the mood by praising Zelensky’s signature black jacket, previously mocked by some media.
“I love it,” Trump said with a smile as they shook hands at the West Wing.
Yet, beneath the cordiality, Kyiv and its allies remained wary of Trump’s apparent alignment with Putin’s stance post-Alaska. As Zelensky advocated for robust Western security guarantees, Trump affirmed U.S. involvement in Ukraine’s future but was noncommittal on specifics, noting, “We might share more on that later today”
Meanwhile, air raid sirens blared in Kyiv, and overnight Russian strikes claimed at least seven lives, underscoring the urgency of the talks as European leaders prepared to join Trump for further discussions.
