Trump and European Leaders Discuss Security Guarantees for Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict

President Donald Trump convened a meeting at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and explore security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression. Trump expressed support for European-led security measures, stating that European countries "want to give protection and they feel very strongly about it and we'll help them out with that."

The discussions included the possibility of a NATO-like security presence in Ukraine, with European nations taking the lead and the U.S. providing assistance. Trump emphasized that Europe would be the "first line of defense" in maintaining peace in the region.

Following the meeting, Trump held a 40-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss elevating the level of diplomatic engagement in Ukraine peace talks. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov noted that the leaders discussed increasing the status of representatives involved in negotiations, though specifics were not provided.

European leaders praised the collaborative efforts. French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted that security guarantees involve the security of "the whole of the European continent." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz remarked that Russia's demand for Ukraine to cede parts of the Donbas region was akin to the U.S. giving up Florida.

The meeting marked a shift from previous interactions between Trump and Zelenskyy, with a more cooperative tone aimed at finding a resolution to the conflict. Trump indicated that a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin could be arranged soon to advance peace negotiations.