US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had accepted security guarantees for Ukraine in talks last week. Speaking at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and seven European leaders, Trump said, “In a very significant step, President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine and this is one of the key points that we need to consider and we're going to be considering that at the table, also who will do what essentially.”
He added, “I think the European nations are going to take a lot of the burden. We're going to help them and we're going to make it very secure.”
Prospect of a trilateral meeting
Trump hinted at a possible three-way meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy, noting that such a discussion could offer a “reasonable chance of ending the war.” He said, “The war is going to end when it ends. I can’t tell you [when], but the war is going to end, and this gentleman [Zelenskyy] wants it to end, and Vladimir Putin wants it to end.”
Trump said he would speak to Putin by phone following the summit. “We’re going to have a phone call right after these meetings today, and we may or may not have a trilat,” he added.
Zelenskyy confirmed the talks with Trump had been positive, saying, “I think it was the best one, or maybe the best one will be in the future. A lot of countries are on the side of Ukraine and all of us want to stop the war.”
Security guarantees under discussion
The Ukrainian president pressed for robust support, saying he needed “everything. First, a strong Ukrainian army. And it’s a lot about weapons, training issues and intelligence.” He noted that further specifics would be discussed with Trump and the European leaders.
Trump reassured that European countries would share responsibility. “They are first line of defence because they’re there, they’re Europe, but we’re going to help them out also. We’ll be involved.”
Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte welcomed Trump’s willingness to back security guarantees. “The fact that you have said ‘I’m willing to participate in the security guarantees’ is a big step — is really a breakthrough, and it makes all the difference. We have to stop the killing. We have to stop the destruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure. It is a terrible war,” Rutte said.
Trump favours full peace agreement over ceasefire
Addressing European leaders, Trump suggested a full peace deal rather than a temporary ceasefire. “In the six wars that I’ve settled, I haven’t had a ceasefire. We just got into negotiations,” he said. “If we can do the ceasefire, great, and if we don’t do a ceasefire, because many other points were given to us, many, many points were given to us — great points.”
Potential release of Ukrainian prisoners
Trump also suggested that Putin could release over a thousand Ukrainian prisoners of war. “I know there’s over 1,000 prisoners, and I know they’re going to release them. Maybe they’re going to release them very soon, like immediately, which I think is great,” he said.
The meetings come amid fears in Kyiv and European capitals that Trump may back Putin’s proposals and push Ukraine to make territorial concessions. Zelenskyy has insisted that ceding any land not under Russian control is a “firm red line.” Russia continues to oppose Nato troop deployments in Ukraine and has demanded restrictions on Ukraine’s military and Western arms support.
Trump has previously suggested that Zelenskyy could end the war “almost immediately, if he wants to.” Despite tensions, both leaders struck a more conciliatory tone than in their February meeting.
Trump expressed confidence that a resolution is possible. “I have a feeling you and [Putin] are going to work something out. We will come to a resolution today, I think, on almost everything, including probably the security,” he said in the East Room of the White House alongside European leaders.
Zelenskyy said any territorial discussions would occur with Putin in either a bilateral or trilateral setting.
(With inputs from AFP)
He added, “I think the European nations are going to take a lot of the burden. We're going to help them and we're going to make it very secure.”
Prospect of a trilateral meeting
Trump hinted at a possible three-way meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy, noting that such a discussion could offer a “reasonable chance of ending the war.” He said, “The war is going to end when it ends. I can’t tell you [when], but the war is going to end, and this gentleman [Zelenskyy] wants it to end, and Vladimir Putin wants it to end.”
Trump said he would speak to Putin by phone following the summit. “We’re going to have a phone call right after these meetings today, and we may or may not have a trilat,” he added.
Zelenskyy confirmed the talks with Trump had been positive, saying, “I think it was the best one, or maybe the best one will be in the future. A lot of countries are on the side of Ukraine and all of us want to stop the war.”
Security guarantees under discussion
The Ukrainian president pressed for robust support, saying he needed “everything. First, a strong Ukrainian army. And it’s a lot about weapons, training issues and intelligence.” He noted that further specifics would be discussed with Trump and the European leaders.
Trump reassured that European countries would share responsibility. “They are first line of defence because they’re there, they’re Europe, but we’re going to help them out also. We’ll be involved.”
Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte welcomed Trump’s willingness to back security guarantees. “The fact that you have said ‘I’m willing to participate in the security guarantees’ is a big step — is really a breakthrough, and it makes all the difference. We have to stop the killing. We have to stop the destruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure. It is a terrible war,” Rutte said.
Trump favours full peace agreement over ceasefire
Addressing European leaders, Trump suggested a full peace deal rather than a temporary ceasefire. “In the six wars that I’ve settled, I haven’t had a ceasefire. We just got into negotiations,” he said. “If we can do the ceasefire, great, and if we don’t do a ceasefire, because many other points were given to us, many, many points were given to us — great points.”
Potential release of Ukrainian prisoners
Trump also suggested that Putin could release over a thousand Ukrainian prisoners of war. “I know there’s over 1,000 prisoners, and I know they’re going to release them. Maybe they’re going to release them very soon, like immediately, which I think is great,” he said.
The meetings come amid fears in Kyiv and European capitals that Trump may back Putin’s proposals and push Ukraine to make territorial concessions. Zelenskyy has insisted that ceding any land not under Russian control is a “firm red line.” Russia continues to oppose Nato troop deployments in Ukraine and has demanded restrictions on Ukraine’s military and Western arms support.
Trump has previously suggested that Zelenskyy could end the war “almost immediately, if he wants to.” Despite tensions, both leaders struck a more conciliatory tone than in their February meeting.
Trump expressed confidence that a resolution is possible. “I have a feeling you and [Putin] are going to work something out. We will come to a resolution today, I think, on almost everything, including probably the security,” he said in the East Room of the White House alongside European leaders.
Zelenskyy said any territorial discussions would occur with Putin in either a bilateral or trilateral setting.
(With inputs from AFP)
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