Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. The announcement came late Saturday, only hours after Trump finished a high-profile summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
That Alaska summit ended without any agreement on how to stop the fighting in Ukraine. Still, Trump immediately reached out to Zelenskyy and invited him to Washington.
Zelenskyy revealed that he and Trump had already spoken on Saturday. He described their phone call as a “long and substantive” conversation.
The Ukrainian leader said he accepted Trump’s invitation without hesitation, calling it a “chance to finally push for an end to the war.”
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“I want to thank President Trump for inviting me,” Zelenskyy said. “On Monday, we will meet in the Oval Office and discuss all the details regarding ending the killing and the war.”
The meeting is seen as extraordinary, especially because it follows Trump’s direct talks with Putin. Trump has often been accused of being too close to the Russian leader, but Zelenskyy now hopes Trump’s personal diplomacy can create a breakthrough.
Zelenskyy also highlighted the role of Europe in any peace plan. He stressed that America alone cannot secure lasting peace.
“It is important that Europeans are involved at every stage to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America,” Zelenskyy explained. “We also discussed positive signals from the American side regarding participation in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security.”
These words show that Ukraine is not only looking to Washington but also wants Europe firmly in the process. Zelenskyy believes that if Europe is left out, any deal could collapse quickly.
Trump, however, has often been highly critical of Europe. The U.S. president has said European countries bear part of the blame for the war in Ukraine.
He argues that European leaders failed to stop Russia early and have not shown enough effort to broker peace.
Despite his criticism, Trump did reach out to Europe after his meeting with Putin. On Saturday morning, he debriefed several leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, about his conversation with the Russian leader.
Still, it remains unclear how much Europe will be allowed to shape the talks in Washington. Observers believe Trump wants to be seen as the central figure who can personally end the war.
For Zelenskyy, the stakes could not be higher. His country continues to face brutal fighting, and civilians are paying the heaviest price.
He hopes that by engaging Trump directly, he can push the U.S. president toward stronger action and faster solutions.
The Ukrainian leader also knows that Trump’s meeting with Putin could give him insight into Moscow’s real position. If Trump shares those details, Zelenskyy might gain a clearer picture of whether peace is truly possible.
Some analysts warn that Zelenskyy must tread carefully. While Trump has promised to listen, he could also pressure Ukraine to make concessions that Europe and Kyiv may find unacceptable.
Others believe this is Ukraine’s best chance in months to move closer to peace. Trump’s personal style of diplomacy has surprised many before, and a face-to-face meeting in Washington could open new doors.
The Monday meeting will be watched across the world. It could mark the beginning of a new peace process, or another dead end in a war that has already caused immense suffering.
For now, Zelenskyy remains cautiously hopeful. “We will explore all options,” he said. “The lives of our people depend on the decisions we make in the coming days.”
Whether this bold step leads to peace or more tension will be known soon. But one thing is certain: the Zelenskyy-Trump meeting has become the most anticipated diplomatic event of the week.
