Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the United States on Monday for high-stakes talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders, vowing that Ukraine would not repeat past mistakes in its pursuit of a lasting peace.

Why it matters:

The Washington talks come at a pivotal moment in the war. Both Zelensky and Trump are signaling starkly different approaches to peace, with negotiations potentially shaping the future of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, NATO ambitions, and relations with Moscow.

 

State of play:

Zelensky insists on a just and durable peace, rejecting any settlement resembling past concessions, including Ukraine’s 2014 loss of Crimea and the broken “security guarantees” under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.

Trump, meanwhile, has publicly argued Ukraine could end the war “almost immediately” by accepting limitations, namely, giving up Crimea and dropping its NATO membership bid.

European leaders are also in Washington, joining the “Coalition of the Willing” after meetings in Brussels, underscoring the international significance of the event.

 

What they’re saying:

Zelensky on Telegram:

“We all equally want to end this war quickly and reliably. But not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of Donbas… Ukraine should never have surrendered Crimea in 2014, just as we did not give up Kyiv, Odesa, or Kharkiv after 2022.”

“We will protect Ukraine, guarantee its security, and our people will always be grateful to President Trump, to everyone in America, and every partner for their support and invaluable assistance.”

 

Key points:

  • Zelensky and Trump are meeting first in a bilateral session, followed by a multilateral summit with European leaders.
  • Talks are expected to weigh peace deal options and explore the possibility of a direct meeting between Zelensky and Putin.
  • Ukraine claims progress in the Donetsk and Sumy regions despite ongoing battles.
  • Trump’s published schedule highlights Washington as the stage for both U.S.-Ukraine and EU-Ukraine diplomacy.

 

Bottom line:

The Washington talks mark a critical test of whether Kyiv and its Western backers can forge a common peace strategy, or whether deep divides between Zelensky and Trump will further complicate efforts to end the war.

 

Go deeper:

Putin, Trump Call Talks "Constructive" But Ukraine Ceasefire Remains Elusive

Hossein Vaez - Hossein Vaez