HIGH STAKES: Trump meets with Zelensky in Oval Office – here’s what happened

President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Monday in a high-stakes meeting aimed toward achieving peace in Eastern Europe

by Summer Lane | August 18, 2025

President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Monday, welcoming him back after the European leader was dismissed for disrespectful behavior in February.

This meeting also comes just three days after President Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, where the two discussed options for moving Russia and Ukraine toward a peaceful resolution in the longstanding conflict overseas.

Zelensky arrived at the White House roughly 15 minutes late. He wore what appeared to be the semblance of a black suit, but he did not wear a tie.

Trump told the press that Monday’s meeting was “very important” and noted the “substantial progress” his administration had made so far in moving Ukraine and Russia closer to conflict resolution.

“Thank you for this invitation and thank you very much for your efforts,” Zelensky told the U.S. president.

Trump said that if everything went smoothly today, he expected an upcoming trilateral meeting that would include himself, Putin, and Zelensky.

“We have a good chance of doing it,” Trump said.

One reporter asked if Ukraine would be willing to redraw its maps in exchange for ending the war. Zelensky dodged the question somewhat, instead highlighting the importance of the United States and Trump’s “diplomatic way of finishing this war and we are ready” for a trilateral meeting.

For Trump’s part, he said that if peace is achieved, he is working to secure it long-term.

“We’re not talking about a two-year peace and we end up in this mess again,” Trump remarked. “…We’re going to make sure it works.”

On the issue of sending U.S. troops or American peacekeeping forces to Ukraine, Trump did not rule these options out – but he emphasized the reality that European nations are “the first line of defense because they’re THERE. But we’re going to help them out also.”

Trump commented, “We’re going to be meeting with a great representative group and seven very powerful, very big countries and great people, all friends of mine and friends of yours, and we’re going to have some suggestions made.”

Joining Zelensky in the White House was a slate of European leaders, including the leaders of France, Germany, and Italy. European Union and NATO representatives were also present, with plans to meet together with Trump and Zelensky following the two leaders’ bilateral press conference in the Oval Office.

Other important comments to note during the meeting included:

• Zelensky thanked First Lady Melania Trump for a heartfelt letter sent to President Vladimir Putin, asking for an end to the war for the good of the children affected by the bloody conflict,
• Trump said the letter was “well received” by Putin, and praised his wife for calling for peace “very openly, very proudly, and with great sorrow” amid rising death tolls,
• Zelensky also brought a hand-delivered letter from his wife, the First Lady of Ukraine, to be delivered to Mrs. Trump,
• Zelensky said he would be open to reinstating Ukrainian elections when the war is over,
• Trump responded to a question regarding whether the American media was actually rooting against a peace deal. He said “no matter what I do, no matter what deal I make, from my standpoint…they’ll say, Trump was absolutely horrible…” He said that despite the mainstream media, the people understand his efforts. “They’re the only ones that count,” he said,
• Trump said he would prefer to go to an immediate peace deal and skip a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

In summary, Trump’s comments focused heavily on achieving peace as quickly as possible. He praised the Ukrainian people for being “smart” and “energetic,” and said he loves “all people” and looked toward stopping the war and halting the needless bloodshed overseas.

President Trump said that he and President Putin would speak on the phone after Monday’s important meetings with Zelensky and European leaders. Trump stated that if a trilateral meeting is not achieved, “then the fighting continues.”

Photo: Screenshot/YouTube: White House