Trump says U.S. will help guarantee Ukraine's security if peace deal signed
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Zelensky arrives at the White House. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took questions at the White House on Monday in the same setting as their disastrous blowup in February, but with a much friendlier tone.
Why it matters: While it was all smiles for the camera, it was a tense few days in the lead-up to Monday's meeting, with Trump questioning Zelensky's willingness to make peace and Ukrainian officials worrying that Russian President Vladimir Putin manipulated Trump during their summit in Alaska.
- However, Trump's endorsement of strong security guarantees for Ukraine under any peace deal was very welcome news for Kyiv.
Driving the news: Asked if the U.S. was prepared to send troops to guarantee Ukraine's security after the war, Trump said that European countries would form the "first line of defense" but "we'll be involved."
- Trump did not offer any more details beyond saying the U.S. will do its part to ensure any peace deal endures for the long term. "We will give them very good protection, very good security. That's part of it," Trump said.
- Trump reiterated his desire for a trilateral summit involving Putin and Zelensky after this meeting. But Putin has yet to endorse that idea, and Trump said it's unclear whether the meeting will happen.
- "He's expecting my call when we're finished with this meeting," Trump said of Putin.
Friction point: Trump came out of the summit with Putin declaring that it was now "up to President Zelensky" to make a deal. But Putin's maximalist claims to Ukrainian territory make the prospect of a breakthrough in the immediate future highly uncertain.
- Seven European leaders arrived at the White House ahead of Zelensky. After Trump and Zelensky meet, they will take part in a larger summit with those leaders — all strong supporters of Ukraine. That's scheduled to begin at 2:30pm ET.
On the agenda: Security guarantees — which Ukraine insists upon as part of any deal — and territorial concessions, which Trump believes will be necessary to achieve peace.
- Zelensky didn't answer directly when asked whether he was prepared to cede Ukrainian territory to make peace.
The intrigue: Two Trump advisers told Axios ahead of the meeting that this would not be a repeat of the diplomatic explosion in February.
- The White House did ask if Zelensky would be wearing a suit, after his attire last time irked Trump. Zelensky wore a black jacket but not a full business suit, though Trump complimented the outfit when a reporter asked about it.
State of play: Zelensky made clear in his social media posts ahead of the meeting that while he and those leaders "all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably," he won't cede territory to Russia.
- Trump doubled down on this stance in a Truth Social post just before Zelensky arrived in D.C. late Sunday that said the Ukrainian leader "can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to," adding there's no "getting back" Crimea and "NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE."
- Trump's tone was different on Monday on the question of Zelensky's desire for peace. "I know [Zelensky], I know myself, and I believe Vladimir Putin wants it ended," he said.
Go deeper: Trump calls Putin during Ukraine summit at White House
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information.
