Following high-stakes talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Alaska, U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House on Monday, according to a New York Times report citing unnamed European officials. The move signals Washington’s latest effort to broker a resolution to the prolonged Ukraine conflict, though significant hurdles remain.
The Alaska summit on Friday marked the first in-person meeting between the U.S. and Russian presidents since the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine in February 2022. Described by Trump as “warm” and by Putin as “frank” and “substantive,” the discussions raised cautious optimism about potential pathways to peace. Both leaders indicated a desire to advance negotiations but offered no concrete details.
Plans for Monday’s Washington gathering gained clarity on Saturday when Zelensky announced via social media that he would travel to the U.S. capital, a visit later confirmed by Trump. The New York Times reported that the U.S. president intends to propose a deal requiring Ukraine to cede control of remaining Ukrainian-held territories in Donbass, a region Russia claims as part of its own. In exchange, Moscow would reportedly agree to freeze front-line hostilities elsewhere. However, Zelensky has consistently rejected any territorial concessions, a stance reiterated by Ukrainian officials as recently as last week.
The proposed meeting underscores shifting dynamics in international diplomacy. Following the Alaska talks, leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, Poland, and the European Union issued a joint statement pledging support for a trilateral U.S.-Ukraine-Europe summit. “We stand ready to collaborate with President Trump and President Zelenskyy to advance dialogue grounded in European solidarity,” the declaration read.
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, however, noted that Moscow and Washington have not yet discussed a potential three-way meeting involving Putin, Trump, and Zelensky. Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent amplified tensions within Western alliances during a Fox Business interview, urging European nations backing Ukraine to “put up or shut up” rather than pressuring Washington amid negotiations.
The developments come as Ukraine approaches its third year of full-scale conflict, with Moscow controlling nearly 20% of its territory. Diplomatic observers caution that while the Alaska talks may signal a thaw, significant gaps persist between Kyiv’s demand for sovereignty and Russia’s territorial objectives. Zelensky’s visit to Washington — and the level of European participation — will likely test the viability of any proposed framework, particularly as Ukraine’s allies balance solidarity with war-weary publics.
With millions displaced and global food and energy markets still feeling the war’s ripple effects, Monday’s meeting could shape not only the conflict’s trajectory but also the broader alignment of transatlantic alliances.
