What Really Happened in the White House Meeting?

On August 18, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House to discuss ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. Unlike their contentious February meeting, this summit was initially cordial, with Trump promising U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, including a potential $90 billion arms deal funded by Europe. However, tensions flared over territorial concessions, with Trump pushing Zelensky to consider ceding Russian-controlled areas like Donbas and ruling out NATO membership. Zelensky firmly rejected these ideas, emphasizing Ukraine’s territorial integrity and need for robust security. Trump also revealed plans for a bilateral meeting between Zelensky and Putin, followed by a trilateral summit. Despite a productive tone, no firm resolutions were reached, and a planned joint press conference was canceled after heated Oval Office discussions. European leaders, including Macron and Merz, expressed skepticism about Putin’s intentions, while Trump downplayed the need for a ceasefire.