Trump says Russia will accept security guarantees for Ukraine, but adds ‘possible exchanges of territory’ to be discussed
Trump says after his summit with Putin he believes that peace is “within reach”.
In a “significant step”, Putin agreed Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine, he says.
He says the leaders at this meeting will be considering “who will do what, essentially” regarding Ukraine’s future security.
Trump says he’s optimistic that the group can reach an agreement that will deter future aggression against Ukraine, adding:
I actually think there won’t be. I even think that’s largely overrated.
“I think the European nations are going to take a lot of the burden,” he says, reiterating that the US will be involved. “We’re going to help them.”
The meeting will also discuss the “possible exchanges of territory”, he adds, ominously for Ukraine.
Key events
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Trump says he would prefer ceasefire, but ‘as of this moment, it’s not happening’
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Trump says Russia will accept security guarantees for Ukraine, but adds ‘possible exchanges of territory’ to be discussed
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Trump kicks off multilateral meeting with European leaders
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Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, round two – snap analysis
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‘We will give them very good protection,’ Trump says of Ukraine
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Trump to call Putin later today
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Ukraine needs ‘everything’ in support from US, says Zelenskyy
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Trump says ceasefire not necessary to negotiate an end to war
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Trump says he believes Putin wants Ukraine war to end
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US to ‘be involved’ in Ukraine’s security, says Trump
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Zelenskyy doesn’t say if he’s prepared to cede territory to Russia
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Zelenskyy thanks Trump for efforts to stop war
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Trump touts ‘very substantial progress’ in Putin talks
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Zelenskyy returns to White House for crucial talks with Trump alongside European allies
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We need ‘joint pressure’ on Russia to end war, Zelenskyy says, after ‘coordinating positions’ with allies ahead of White House talks
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First European leaders arrive at White House — in pictures
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European leaders expected at White House soon
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14 dead in overnight Russian attacks, authorities say
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Russia’s Putin calls leaders of Brazil, India, South Africa ahead of Zelenskyy’s DC visit
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EU27 to get debrief on Trump-Zelenskyy talks tomorrow
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First leaders seen in Washington ahead of crunch talks
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Poland set to miss summit amid conflict between president, government on foreign policy
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‘Russia can only be forced into peace through strength’, Zelenskyy says as he bids for Trump’s backing
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‘I’ll get it done, Trump says, as he insists ‘I know exactly what I’m doing’
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Trump rages against ‘fake news’ saying they wouldn’t credit him even if he got Russia to ‘surrender’ and hand over Moscow, St. Petersburg, and 1000 miles around them
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European leaders want to ‘flesh out details’ of security guarantees for Ukraine
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Ten dead in attacks ahead of Trump-Zelenskyy meeting
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Meloni sees ‘glimmer of hope’ from Trump-Putin talks, focuses on security guarantees
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‘We’ve got to get it right,’ Starmer says, as he pushes for ‘lasting, fair, just’ peace in Ukraine
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UK’s Starmer ready to back Ukraine peace deal without ceasefire as precondition
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Germany’s Merz finds silver lining in Trump’s Alaska summit, but commiting troops continues to divide politicians
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‘Moscow must hear: stop,’ Zelenskyy says, as he warns against rewarding Russia for war
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Hungary, Ukraine clash over criticism for attack on Russian oil pipeline
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Seven dead, 20 injured in Russian attack on Kharkiv
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17 injured in overnight Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia
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Trump’s tone on ending war likely to alarm Europeans ahead of talks — snap analysis
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Ceasefire, security guarantees to be discussed at White House, Finnish PM says
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Opening summary
Invited to address the media, Zelenksyy says he and Trump had a “constructive, specific” meeting, a “very good conversation”.
He reiterates that Ukraine’s security depends on the European countries present and the United States. “This is very important the the US gives such strong signal and is ready for security guarantees,” he says.
Trump says he would prefer ceasefire, but ‘as of this moment, it’s not happening’
Trump says he would prefer an immediate to ceasefire in Ukraine while they work on a peace deal, but “as of this moment, it’s not happening”.
Trump reiterates that he wants a trilateral meeting soon.
Trump says Russia will accept security guarantees for Ukraine, but adds ‘possible exchanges of territory’ to be discussed
Trump says after his summit with Putin he believes that peace is “within reach”.
In a “significant step”, Putin agreed Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine, he says.
He says the leaders at this meeting will be considering “who will do what, essentially” regarding Ukraine’s future security.
Trump says he’s optimistic that the group can reach an agreement that will deter future aggression against Ukraine, adding:
I actually think there won’t be. I even think that’s largely overrated.
“I think the European nations are going to take a lot of the burden,” he says, reiterating that the US will be involved. “We’re going to help them.”
The meeting will also discuss the “possible exchanges of territory”, he adds, ominously for Ukraine.
There is a feed at the top of the blog if you’d like to follow the meeting live.
Trump kicks off multilateral meeting with European leaders
That multilateral meeting has just started between Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the European leaders at the White House.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump have just posed for a “family photo” with European leaders. Here it is, featuring UK prime minister Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish president Alexander Stubb, and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, round two – snap analysis
Well, the optics of this initial meeting were far friendlier than the last time these people were all in the Oval Office together, and Zelenskyy and the other European leaders will no doubt be very pleased with how suit-gate was handled, for example – heck, there was even laughing at times.
But despite this lightheartedness, there were some worrying developments for Kyiv. Perhaps most key was Trump’s assertion that he’s decided he doesn’t need a ceasefire after all in order to negotiate a peace deal, after spending months demanding one from Russia and threatening sanctions and “severe consequences” if it didn’t comply. Things have clearly changed after his Alaska summit with Putin, who knows the US president wants more than anything a quick end to the war and has played this up to his advantage by blaming others for being the obstacle to peace.
But there were glimmers of hope for Kyiv, notably Trump saying the US would help with Ukraine’s security in a peace deal, giving Ukraine “very good protection”. But he remained uncommitted on what level of specific security guarantees the US is willing to support, for instance whether its involvement would include an Article 5-style defence commitment.
Whether Trump can now be convinced once again by Zelenskyy and the Europeans that the onus is on Russia to end its war, and not on Ukraine to give up territory, in order to achieve peace remains to be seen.
‘We will give them very good protection,’ Trump says of Ukraine
Earlier Trump was asked if he would offer Ukraine [Nato] Article 5-style security guarantees. He said this hasn’t been discussed yet but says of Kyiv:
We will give them very good protection, very good security. That’s part of it.
Trump to call Putin later today
Trump says he just spoke to Putin indirectly, and will speak to him again after these meetings today “and we may or may not have a [trilateral meeting].”
“He’s expecting my call when we’re finished with this meeting,” Trump says.
