Trump, Zelenskyy meeting: US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) said he had a “very good meeting” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and
top European leaders in the Oval Office, as Washington and its allies explored new ways to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
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Trump revealed in a Truth Social post that the discussions focused on providing security guarantees for Ukraine, coordinated between the United States and European nations. The meeting was followed by his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to set the stage for a potential dialogue with Zelenskyy, which could later expand into a trilateral involving Trump himself.
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The White House described the day’s engagement as “very successful,” adding that “we are all working for the same goal. We want to stop the killing and resolve this.”
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Who attended the Oval Office meeting?
The meeting saw the participation of several major European leaders:
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
- Emmanuel Macron, President of France
- Alexander Stubb, President of Finland
- Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy
- Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
- Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany
- Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
- Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General
Trump was joined by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who will coordinate with Ukraine and Russia on follow-up discussions.
Trump’s outreach to Putin
At the conclusion of the meetings, Trump said he called Russian President Putin to discuss the framework for peace negotiations. He suggested that a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy could soon take place at a mutually agreed location.
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Following that, Trump said he intended to hold a trilateral session involving himself alongside the two presidents. He termed the move “a very good, early step for a war that has been going on for almost four years.”
Global leaders welcome US push for peace
The meeting drew strong reactions from European counterparts, most of whom praised Trump’s effort to unlock stalled negotiations.
Zelenskyy said the talks touched upon “very sensitive points,” but were constructive.
NATO Secretary General Rutte said Trump had “broken the deadlock” by initiating dialogue with Putin.
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Finland’s Stubb highlighted that more progress had been made in the past two weeks than in three-and-a-half years of war.
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Italy’s Meloni called it a “new phase” after years of no dialogue from Russia.
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UK’s Starmer described the day as “important” and thanked Trump for uniting global leaders at one table.
Germany’s Merz said the meeting had “opened the path” to more complex negotiations.
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France’s Macron stressed that “everybody is in favor of peace” and that a trilateral was essential to resolve the conflict.
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EU’s von der Leyen said peace and “stopping the killing” were in the common interest of Europe and the US.
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Market and geopolitical implications
The push for dialogue marks the first significant diplomatic breakthrough in years for the Russia-Ukraine war. Analysts noted that if peace talks advance:
- Energy markets could see a fall in global crude oil and gas prices, which have been elevated due to supply disruptions since 2022.
- European defense stocks may face volatility as reduced conflict risk could impact long-term spending projections.
- Currency markets could react positively, with the euro strengthening against the dollar amid improved security sentiment in Europe.
- Emerging markets, including India, may benefit from easing geopolitical tensions, potentially lowering import costs for energy and fertilizers.
However, experts also cautioned that the talks were only at an early stage and “complicated negotiations” lay ahead, as German Chancellor Merz warned.
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5 key takeaways
Historic Oval Office gathering: Trump hosted Zelenskyy, EU, NATO, and key European leaders to discuss Ukraine’s future security guarantees.
Outreach to Moscow: Trump called Putin and began preparations for a Zelenskyy-Putin meeting, followed by a trilateral including the US President.
Broad global support: Leaders including Macron, Meloni, Starmer, and von der Leyen backed the initiative and stressed urgency for peace.
Diplomatic momentum: Finland’s Stubb and NATO’s Rutte noted unprecedented progress in the past weeks compared to years of stalemate.
Economic stakes: The prospect of peace talks raised hopes of easing energy prices, reduced defense escalation, and stronger global stability.
This development comes as the war nears its fourth year, with world leaders cautiously optimistic that Washington’s fresh initiative may offer the first real pathway toward ending one of Europe’s most destructive conflicts in decades.
