All eyes worldwide are on the White House, where today, August 18, President Donald Trump hosts his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, and several EU leaders to discuss the future of the war-torn country. This time around, Trump praised Zelensky for looking sharp and well-dressed, as can be seen in this video.
After Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful during the February meeting, the Ukrainian leader said the word “thanks” four times in the first 10 seconds of his short remarks Monday, CNN reported. “Thank you for invitation, and thank you very much for your efforts, personal efforts, to stop killings and stop this war. Thank you for using this opportunity, many thanks to your wife,” he said.
The summit meeting with Trump and European leaders has ended, but leaders are staying in the White House to continue negotiations, possibly in a different format, said Serhiy Nykyforov, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s spokesperson. Trump said he would not rule out sending troops to Ukraine if needed to guarantee the country’s security against future Russian attacks. Sending US troops would be a significant development that could make it easier for Zelensky to agree to other aspects of a proposed deal.
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“President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine. And this is one of the key points that we need to consider, and we’re going to be considering that at the table,” said Trump. “I’m optimistic that, collectively, we can reach an agreement that would deter any future aggression against Ukraine, and I actually think there won’t be.”
“We’re going to work with Ukraine. We’re going to work with everybody, and we’re going to make sure that if there’s peace, the peace is going to stay long-term. This is very long-term. We’re not talking about a two-year peace, only to end up in this mess again. We’re going to make sure that everything’s good. We’ll work with Russia. We’re going to work with Ukraine. We’re going to make sure it works. And I think if we can get to peace, it’s going to work. I have no doubt about it,” he said. Pressed further on any guarantees for Kyiv by reporters, Trump said there would be “a lot of help when it comes to security” in any post-war settlement, but he stressed that Europe would “be the first line of defence”, albeit with some American assistance. “We’re going to be discussing it today, but we will give them very good protection, very good security,” he said.
Zelensky also spoke with Gen. Kellogg
Zelensky had already held talks with US special envoy Keith Kellogg in Washington DC, ahead of what he says will be a “very serious” meeting with Trump and European leaders, who are their to support Zelensky, in a likely attempt to avoid him being humiliated again by the US president and his vice president, J.D. Vance, who apart from criticising harshly for not wearing a suit, accused him of risking World War III.
“Russia can only be forced into peace through strength, and President Trump has that strength,” Zelensky said in a post on social media, thanking Kellogg for the meeting. “When peace is discussed for one country in Europe, it means peace for all of Europe,” the Ukrainian leader wrote. “We are ready to continue working with maximum effort to end the war and to ensure reliable security.” He denounced Russia, saying, “attacks on our cities continued. Among those killed were two children, and dozens of people were wounded. People were simply sleeping when the Russian army launched strikes on the cities.”
Zelensky meets with Finnish president
After meeting with Mr. Kellogg, Zelensky began another “preparatory meeting” with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb.
According to the BBC, Keir Starmer has arrived in Washington, DC. He landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, near the country’s capital.
The world is anxious to learn if Zelensky is prepared to bow to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s conditions to end the war, including that he cede Donbas, give up attempts to recover Crimea and forget his plans to have Ukraine join NATO.
Ukrainian foreign minister rejects bowing to Putin
However, just before the start of the crucial meeting with Trump, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Kyiv’s position that it will not give up territory as part of any deals with Russia remains unchanged.
“As regards expectations from this meeting, it’s further progress, a clearer understanding of the parameters of future security guarantees, which is extremely important, and further work to bring nearer a trilateral meeting in the Zelensky-Putin-Trump format with the possible involvement of other allied leaders,” said Mr Sybiha.
