While Donald Trump’s meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky focused on charting a path to peace in Ukraine, it also produced hot mic moments that offered a look behind the scenes of the summit.
Trump welcomed Zelenskyy alongside Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, Alexander Stubb and Britain’s Keir Starmer, declaring the gathering ‘a very good, early step’ toward ending the war.
In front of the cameras, the leaders spoke of unity and the need to push forward on negotiations, but they were caught letting their guard down on several occasions when they thought the cameras had stopped rolling.
While waiting for their counterparts in the East room of the White House, Trump leaned over to Macron and was caught saying: ‘I think he wants to make a deal for me. You understand that? As crazy as it sounds.’
The remark was widely understood to be a reference to Putin.
Trump has long insisted that the Russian president is waiting to make peace through him personally rather than through NATO or the European Union.
He has consistently maintained that if he had been president, the war in Ukraine would have never happened. Joe Biden was the president at the time.
Putin himself echoed the same sentiment during his own meeting with Trump at Anchorage, Alaska.
Trump and Zelensky had a White House meeting where they discussed the path to peace
While waiting for their counterparts in the East room of the White House, Trump leaned over to Macron and was caught saying: ‘I think he wants to make a deal for me
Later, after a joint press conference, another microphone picked up Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, warmly thanking Trump for his media handling.
Sitting across from them, Finnish president Alexander Stubb asked: ‘You go through this every day?’ Trump then replied: ‘All the time.’
Meloni then interjected: ‘But he loves it, he loves it. He does it always. I never want to speak with my press.’
That prompted Trump to change the subject to golf, saying that Stubb was a good golfer.
Meloni herself had her fair share of headlines on social media. Users were quick to point out the many faces she made as she sat with Trump during the press conference.
Another moment also shows her appearing uninterested in discussions as the leaders sat around the Oval Office listening to Trump.
The UK’s prime minister Keir Starmer was also seen having side conversations with Macron.
The light-hearted moments began early on during the day when a member of the press complimented Zelensky on his suit, a departure from his usual military fatigues.
Zelensky was complimented for wearing a suit by reporters and issued a hilarious takedown of the journalist who criticised his military fatigues during his infamous White House visit in February
After speaking to the press, Trump, Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finland’s president Alexander Stubb were caught in a light hearted hot mic moment
Trump also seized the moment to give Zelensky and Macron a look at some of his own fashion items at his MAGA gift shop at the White House
The Ukrainian leader was criticised by a reporter for wearing military attire during his explosive White House visit six months ago in February. As Trump and Zelensky sat to address journalists, the same reporter said: ‘President Zelensky, you look fabulous in that suit … you look good.’
Trump then said: ‘I said the same thing,’ before pointing out: ‘he’s the one who attacked you last time.’ Zelensky said he remembered before comically telling the journalist: ‘You are wearing the same suit. You see, I changed, you have not.’
Trump also seized the moment to give Zelensky and Macron a look at some of his own fashion items at his MAGA gift shop at the White House.
He showed off hats branded with his ‘4 more years’ slogan, which he popularised during the 2024 election campaign.
The official discussions went far beyond the off-the-cuff chatter.
Trump said the United States would provide NATO-style security guarantees for Ukraine in coordination with European allies, though without admitting the country into the alliance itself.
He claimed Putin had already signalled willingness to accept such guarantees.
Trump also revealed he was arranging a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, likely within the next two weeks. He also said a possible trilateral summit involving himself could follow.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron appeared to be engaged in a side conversation during the press conference
Trump has said he is helping to facilitate a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, who he met on Friday in Alaska
Unlike several European leaders who argued for a ceasefire first, Trump made clear he does not see one as a prerequisite for talks.
Zelenskyy, who six months earlier had clashed with Trump during a tense Oval Office visit, shifted tone entirely and repeatedly praised him.
In one short burst, he thanked Trump at least eleven times, reflecting his determination to keep Washington onside.
However, the optimism in Washington was overshadowed by fresh Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities even as the meeting unfolded.
Missiles and drones struck Kremenchuk and Chernihiv, killing civilians in a reminder of the war’s continuing brutality.
