Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returned to the White House on Monday for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to revive efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
In a notably warmer appearance than his strained February visit, Zelensky struck a collegial tone, thanking U.S. officials repeatedly and joking about his decision to wear a suit instead of his trademark military fatigues.
He also handed Trump a personal letter from Ukraineโs First Lady to Melania Trump, mirroring Trumpโs recent delivery of a letter from his wife to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On security, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine needs โeverythingโ from its allies, including weapons, training, and intelligence.
Trump, in his strongest remarks to date, said the U.S. would ensure โgood protectionโ for Kyiv, while insisting Europe remain the โfirst line of defence.โ
He added that Putin had accepted the idea of security guarantees during their Alaska summit, though details remain unclear.
European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, rushed to Washington for the talks, wary of any outcome that could weaken Ukraineโs position.
Trump also floated the possibility of a three-way meeting with Zelensky and Putin, saying it was now a matter of โwhen, not if.โ
While optimism remains cautious, the White House talks marked a rare moment of alignment between Washington, Kyiv, and Europe on the need to press ahead with negotiations โ even as the path to peace remains uncertain.
