WASHINGTON, D.C. August 18, 2025 – President Donald J. Trump convened a high-level multilateral meeting at the White House on Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a delegation of key European leaders, marking what participants described as a breakthrough in efforts to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The gathering, held in the East Room amid a backdrop of national flags including those of the U.S., Ukraine, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, NATO, and the EU, focused on negotiating a sustainable peace agreement and halting the violence that has persisted for over three years.
The meeting comes just days after Trump’s discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which White House officials say helped “break the deadlock” and pave the way for renewed dialogue.
Trump, speaking alongside the assembled leaders, emphasized progress, stating, “We have had a very successful day so far. We are all working for the same goal. We want to stop the killing and resolve this.” He further announced plans to facilitate a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin, signaling U.S. commitment to brokering a resolution.
Zelenskyy praised the talks as “really good,” highlighting discussions on “very sensitive points” and expressing optimism about the path forward. “I think that we had a very good conversation with President Trump,” he said, welcoming the U.S. president’s “strong signal” on Ukraine’s security needs. European leaders echoed this sentiment, crediting Trump with injecting momentum into stalled negotiations. NATO Secretary General noted, “I really want to thank you, President of the United States, dear Donald, for the fact that you… broke the deadlock basically with President Putin by starting the dialogue.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the day “important” and a “new phase,” adding, “after three years that we didn’t see any kind of sign from the Russian side that they were willing for dialogue, so something is changing — something has changed — thanks to you.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the session as a pivotal moment in the conflict’s history, thanking Trump for bringing parties to a point unattained in prior efforts. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron similarly underscored the value of trilateral engagement, with Macron stating, “everybody around this table is in favor of peace… this is why the idea of a trilateral meeting is very important because this is the only way to fix it.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the broader context, referencing a recent NATO summit and a major trade deal as foundations for collaboration. “We had a fantastic NATO Summit… And now, we are here to work together with you on a… lasting peace for Ukraine. Stop the killing. This is really our common interest,” she said.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb went further, asserting that the past two weeks have seen “more progress in ending this war than we have in the past three-and-a-half years.”
Trump assured the group that the U.S. would support Europe in providing “very good protection” for Ukraine as part of any deal, with discussions touching on potential security guarantees and even a peacekeeping force.
White House statements framed the event as a restoration of “American leadership,” contrasting it with previous administrations’ approaches to the conflict.
The talks concluded with leaders remaining at the White House for further private deliberations, amid hopes that this could lead to a formalized peace process. As the war enters its fourth year, with significant human and economic tolls, this meeting represents a rare convergence of transatlantic allies under U.S. auspices, potentially shifting the dynamics of one of the globe’s most protracted crises.