President Volodymyr Zelensky met US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday in renewed efforts to find a path towards ending the war in Ukraine.

The talks drew several European leaders to Washington, just days after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska failed to deliver a ceasefire.

Despite Trump’s upbeat tone and cautious engagement from European leaders, the discussions closed without concrete agreements on security guarantees or clear steps towards a peace deal.

One of Trump’s main proposals is to organise a three-way meeting with Zelensky and Putin.

He told reporters that such an encounter was now “a matter of when, not if.” Trump said he had already called Putin to start “arranging” a bilateral meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, which he hoped would then be followed by a trilateral session involving the US.

According to a Putin adviser, Trump and Putin spoke for 40 minutes on the phone on Monday.

Ahead of the talks, a hot mic captured Trump speaking privately with French President Emmanuel Macron, where he remarked of Putin: “I think he wants to make a deal. I think he wants to make a deal for me. You understand that? As crazy as that sounds.”

Still, bringing Zelensky and Putin together remains highly uncertain. For months, Zelensky has pushed for such a meeting, but largely as a way to show that Moscow has no serious intention of pursuing peace.

The Kremlin has long dismissed direct talks with him, arguing that he is “illegitimate” since no elections have been held in Ukraine under martial law.

On Monday night, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov released a statement calling it “worthwhile” to consider raising the level of representatives in negotiations, but without suggesting Putin himself might join a bilateral.

Pushback over Trump’s stance on ceasefire

In the joint session with European leaders, Trump appeared to play down the need for a ceasefire before peace talks, saying past conflicts he claimed to have helped resolve ended without formal truces.

“I don’t know that it’s necessary,” he said.

That position was quickly challenged, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressing: “I can’t imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire. So, let’s work on that and let’s try to put pressure on Russia.”

Ukraine has previously insisted on a ceasefire as a condition for talks, though Zelensky avoided repeating that demand during the press conference.

Security guarantees under discussion

When asked what Ukraine required from Washington to secure its future, Zelensky responded firmly: “Everything.” He explained that Ukraine needed “weapons, people, training missions and intelligence” to build a strong army.

Trump did not commit US troops but hinted that American security guarantees could extend beyond weapons. “We’ll give them good protection,” he said, noting that Europe remained the “first line of defence” but that the US “will be involved.”

Trump added that Putin had accepted the idea of security guarantees during their Alaska meeting, though details remained vague.

European leaders signalled concern that US promises might fall short of what Ukraine needs.

Any commitment of American troops would mark a major escalation and run the risk of direct confrontation with Russia.

Zelensky adopts softer tone

Zelensky, who clashed with US officials during a tense Oval Office meeting in February, used his latest visit to strike a lighter, more diplomatic tone.

He repeatedly thanked his American hosts, exchanged jokes about his attire with a reporter, and presented Trump with a letter from Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska addressed to Melania Trump.

European leaders also leaned into praise, with NATO chief Mark Rutte thanking Trump for his “leadership” and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saying there were signs of change in Russia’s position.

French President Emmanuel Macron added that discussions on security guarantees also touched on Europe’s own safety from future Russian aggression.

Despite the gestures of goodwill, the Washington meetings ended with lingering uncertainty over whether the US, Russia, Ukraine, and Europe can find common ground on a path to peace.