- By Supratik Das
- Sat, 16 Aug 2025 01:30 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, following Trump's much-anticipated summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which did not deliver a ceasefire or peace deal in the war. Zelenskyy confirmed his visit to the United States following what he described as a “long and meaningful” phone call with Trump on Saturday. The call came shortly after Trump returned from Alaska, where he spent nearly three hours in closed-door discussions with Putin.
According to the White House, Trump held a series of phone conversations with Zelenskyy and top European leaders during his flight back from Alaska. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's leaders, Britain, Italy, Poland, and Finland participated in the conversation. The conversation took more than 90 minutes, Axios said, with Trump updating allies on the results of the summit. Although Trump and Putin both labeled the discussion as "productive," no deal on ending the war came out of it.
Zelenskyy Supports Trilateral Talks
In a social media platform X statement, Zelenskyy again reaffirmed Ukraine's willingness to "constructive cooperation" and expressed approval of Trump's suggestion of a three-way summit between Ukraine, US, and Russia. “Ukraine reaffirms its readiness to work with maximum effort to achieve peace. We support President Trump’s proposal for a trilateral meeting… Key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders,” Zelenskyy said. His office confirmed that he will meet Trump in Washington on Monday to discuss potential frameworks for peace and further US military and financial support.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said his talks with Putin included discussions on security guarantees and potential land swaps, though no details were made public. “I think we’re pretty close to a deal, but Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they’ll say no,” Trump said. When asked what advice he would give Zelenskyy, Trump replied: “Gotta make a deal. Russia is a very big power… they’re great soldiers.” Those remarks alarmed Kyiv and European partners because they feared that Washington and Moscow could try to force an unfair settlement on Ukraine.
Putin Signals "Readiness" But Holds Firm
Putin, in turn, restated Russia's long-standing insistence that the "root causes" of the conflict be tackled, invoking Moscow's "legitimate interests." He concurred that Ukraine's security needed to be guaranteed but gave no indication of compromise on territory. "We are prepared to work on this. I hope that the agreement we reached will enable us to move closer to peace," Putin stated, while cautioning Western capitals against "provocations" or attempts to destroy negotiations. Russian state media subsequently quoted Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov as confirming that the prospects of a three-way summit with Zelenskyy "had not been discussed." Putin, smiling at the end of the Alaska summit, had said in English, “Next time in Moscow.” Trump hinted he might accept the invitation despite anticipating political backlash at home.
What's Next?
As diplomacy went on, each side claimed new overnight attacks. Ukraine's Air Force reported Russia fired 85 attack drones and one ballistic missile, of which 61 were downed. Russia, meanwhile, said its defense forces shot down 29 Ukrainian drones. The conflict, now in its third year, has been Europe's deadliest since World War II, with more than a million dead or injured, including thousands of Ukrainian civilians.
Zelenskyy's meeting with Trump in Washington later this week is watched anxiously as the first face-to-face engagement between the two leaders since Trump resumed his second term at the White House.It could determine whether Trump’s push for a negotiated settlement gains traction or whether the conflict continues without resolution. For now, all eyes are on Washington, where Zelenskyy and Trump will sit down on Monday in what could be a pivotal moment in the war’s trajectory.
(With inputs from agency.)