Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, as Trump signals a major shift in his approach to ending the 3½-year war. Instead of pursuing a ceasefire, Trump has now embraced the idea of negotiating a full peace agreement, a position long championed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The abrupt change came on Saturday, hours after Trump met Putin in Alaska for a summit that produced no agreement to halt hostilities. AP News reports that following calls with Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump posted on social media that “it

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, as Trump signals a major shift in his approach to ending the 3½-year war. Instead of pursuing a ceasefire, Trump has now embraced the idea of negotiating a full peace agreement, a position long championed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The abrupt change came on Saturday, hours after Trump met Putin in Alaska for a summit that produced no agreement to halt hostilities.

AP News

reports that following calls with Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump posted on social media that “it was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up.” Putin has consistently dismissed the idea of a temporary truce, arguing instead for a long-term settlement that would secure Russia’s strategic interests. Trump’s new stance brings him closer to Moscow’s position and marks a departure from his earlier calls, alongside Ukraine and European allies, for an immediate ceasefire before broader talks could begin. European leaders, in a joint statement after speaking with Trump, stopped short of endorsing a peace deal over a ceasefire. They welcomed what they described as Trump’s efforts to “stop the killing in Ukraine, end Russia’s war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace.” Cited by

AP News,

Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, said Trump’s shift could effectively allow Russia to continue fighting while negotiating. “His thinking is shifting towards Putin,” Gould-Davies said.

Zelenskyy Prepares for High-Stakes Visit

Zelenskyy, who was not invited to the Alaska summit, said he had a “long and substantive” conversation with Trump on Saturday. He confirmed that the two leaders would “discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war” when they meet in Washington. This will be Zelenskyy’s first visit to the U.S. since February 28, when Trump berated him in the Oval Office for being “disrespectful” during an extraordinary meeting. Trump, who also held calls with European leaders on Saturday, said the Washington talks with Zelenskyy could pave the way for a follow-up meeting with Putin. “If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin,” he said.

Alaska Summit Raises Concerns

Trump welcomed Putin to the U.S. on Friday, rolling out the red carpet for the Russian leader’s first visit in a decade and since launching his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Despite the symbolism, the summit ended without tangible commitments. Trump described the meeting afterward as having “went very well,” though he provided little detail. Ahead of the summit, Trump had warned Russia would face “very severe consequences” if Putin refused to end the war. However, Putin claimed the two leaders reached an “understanding” on Ukraine, while Trump stressed that “there’s no deal until there’s a deal.” European officials remain cautious. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia’s actions showed it was not serious about peace. “The harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon,” she said, noting that Moscow launched new attacks even as the delegations met in Anchorage.

European Role and Security Guarantees

Zelenskyy reiterated his call for Europeans to be involved in every stage of the peace process. “It is important that Europeans are involved at every stage to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America,” he said. He also mentioned “positive signals” from Washington about U.S. participation in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security, though he did not elaborate. European leaders, in a joint statement, said they were prepared to work with Trump and Zelenskyy toward “a trilateral summit with European support.” They stressed that “Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees” and emphasized that “international borders must not be changed by force.” Zelenskyy said his conversation with Trump, which included a follow-up call with European leaders, lasted more than 90 minutes.

Fighting Intensifies Along Frontline

On the battlefield, Ukrainian and Russian forces continue to clash along a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front. Russian troops have made significant territorial gains since spring, capturing more land than at any point since the early stages of the war. Analysts say Putin used the Alaska summit primarily to stall international pressure. “Vladimir Putin came to the Alaska summit with the principal goal of stalling any pressure on Russia to end the war, he will consider the summit outcome as mission accomplished,” said Neil Melvin, director of international security at the London-based Royal United Services Institute.

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