US President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House to discuss a potential ceasefire and peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Key points from the meeting include¹ ² ³: <br />- *Ceasefire Discussions*: Trump dismissed the need for an immediate ceasefire, instead focusing on a comprehensive peace deal. European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, pushed for a ceasefire, emphasizing its importance for humanitarian reasons. <br />- *Security Guarantees*: Trump agreed to support European security guarantees for Ukraine, which would provide a NATO-like defense commitment to deter Russian aggression. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy welcomed this development, calling it a "significant shift" in the US position. <br />- *Trilateral Meeting*: Trump and Zelenskyy discussed the possibility of a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace deal. The meeting's outcome would depend on the parties' ability to agree on key issues, including territorial arrangements and security guarantees. <br />- *Diverging Views*: European leaders stressed Ukraine's sovereignty and rejected territorial concessions, while Trump seemed open to discussing land swaps as part of a peace agreement. Putin's demands for Ukraine to cede the Donbas region remain a major point of contention. <br />- *Next Steps*: The talks are ongoing, with further discussions planned to solidify security guarantees and explore possibilities for a lasting peace. Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, mentioned that the US and its allies could offer Ukraine a NATO-like commitment to defend the country if it came under attack.
