The visuals were notably different this time. Unlike the tense meeting in February, US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky aimed to avoid appearing confrontational, despite ongoing differences. Zelensky wore a collared suit, and Trump praised his attire. The Ukrainian president frequently said “thank you,” likely pleasing Trump.
During their first appearance in the Oval Office, Zelensky spoke little, possibly hesitating as his views might differ from Trump’s. Differences emerged later when the US and Ukrainian presidents, along with European leaders, addressed journalists. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron suggested a ceasefire in Ukraine should be next, though Trump felt it wasn’t necessary before finding a permanent solution. Zelensky noticeably refrained from commenting on the matter.
The discussions likely focused on security guarantees for Ukraine and potential talks between Zelensky and Putin. No details were shared about the guarantees or how meeting Putin directly would resolve the conflict. However, Zelensky described security guarantees as a crucial “starting point for ending war.” He mentioned at a news conference outside the White House that such guarantees could involve a $90bn deal between Kyiv and Washington for US weapons. Zelensky indicated that the US would buy Ukrainian drones, boosting domestic production. No formal deal is finalized, but an agreement might be reached in 10 days.
Zelensky expressed willingness to meet Putin, stating he was ready to engage with his Russian counterpart, with Trump potentially joining if Moscow agreed. Putin has resisted a direct meeting with Zelensky. “Ukraine will never stop on the way to peace,” he said, with no date set.
The leaders seemed hesitant to discuss possible territorial concessions by Ukraine. Zelensky showed Trump a map of Ukraine, highlighting that Russia had occupied less than 1% of Ukrainian territory in the last 1,000 days. This revelation apparently influenced Trump’s mood. “I have been fighting with what is on that map,” Zelensky said, countering what the Oval Office map indicated as Russian-occupied regions. “It isn’t possible to say this much territory has been taken over this time. These points are important.”
Zelensky remained optimistic about his recent White House visit, describing the meeting with Trump as “warm.” His positivity seemed intentional, aiming to avoid a repeat of his last visit and to persuade American hosts to support the European stance on ending the war. A significant outcome of the trip was that it bought Ukraine more time. The call Trump had with Putin after his meeting with European leaders suggests Russia achieved the same.
Despite concerns, no catastrophic events occurred at the Alaska and Washington summits, at least not publicly. The status quo persists.