His arrival in Washington, D.C. on Sunday came days after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss the war.
WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the invitation as he returned to the U.S. one day before his planned discussions with Trump and European leaders.
“We all aspire to conclude this war swiftly and securely,” he shared on social media. “Peace should be enduring, unlike in the past when Ukraine had to relinquish Crimea and parts of Eastern Ukraine—specifically Donbas—as Putin just leveraged it for another aggressive act.”
Zelenskyy’s arrival in Washington, D.C. on Sunday follows Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where the U.S. failed to bring an end to Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. Trump had previously issued a warning of “very severe consequences” if Putin failed to conclude the war, but did not specify what those consequences would entail.
Following the roughly three-hour meeting, attended by Trump, Putin, and their top aides, Trump announced that a comprehensive peace agreement—not merely a ceasefire—needs to be the next measure to conclude the 3 1/2-year conflict in Ukraine.
Monday’s gathering will include European and NATO leaders aiming to resolve the conflict and reinforce U.S. security commitments currently under discussion. Leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Finland are standing alongside the Ukrainian president.
“Significant day at the White House tomorrow. Never have so many European Leaders gathered here simultaneously. It’s a tremendous honor to host them!!” Trump posted on his social media platform.
“Russia must end this war, which it itself started,” Zelenskyy’s statement said. “And I hope that our joint strength with America, with our European friends, will force Russia into a real peace.”
In another post, Trump said Zelenskyy could “end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight.” He also posted Ukraine would not be part of NATO as “some things never change.”
The last time Zelenskyy was at the White House, Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated him in a heated Oval Office encounter.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
