Trump, European Leaders Express Optimism for End to Russia-Ukraine War After White House Meeting, Trump-Putin-Zelensky Tri-Lat

Trump’s unprecedented peace efforts are making history. And the warmongering Democrats are vomiting.Trump announced he has called Vladimir Putin and has begun setting up a meeting between Putin and Zelensky. he is arranging a trilateral, with Trump, Putin and Zelensky. Marco Rubio is working with JD Vance and Steve Witkoff to set things up. With the likelihood of in-person talks with Trump, Zelensky and Putin soon.

Trump: Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine. At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine. Thank you for your attention to this matter! (Truth).

President Trump says “Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine, and this is one of the key points that we need to consider”

Next steps

Trump revealed that following the Oval Office meetings he phoned Putin to begin making “arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy.” If that takes place, he said, the next stage would be a “Trilat” — a trilateral meeting involving himself, Putin, and Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy said he would be open to a meeting with Trump and Putin or a meeting with just Putin next.

“We confirmed that we are ready for a trilateral meeting,” the Ukrainian president told reporters after the meeting. “And if Russia proposed to the President of the United States bilateral, and then we will see the result of the bilateral, then it can be trilateral. So I said, always, Ukraine will never stop on the way to peace, and we are ready for any kind of format but on the level of leaders.”

“Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine. At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting…” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/avDo5j39F9

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 18, 2025

Wall Street Journal: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Rutte shared details of a phone call between Putin and President Trump on Monday, held in the middle of a meeting between the American president and top European officials. Zelensky says “We don’t have any date” for a potential meeting. Russia’s official comments so far have been non-committal. The talk of possible in-person talks between the warring leaders and Trump came after Trump, Zelensky and a group of European leaders sounded upbeat during a White House meeting Monday about the prospects of finding a way to end the war in Ukraine…. What’s changed: The Trump administration has recently expressed support for security guarantees to prevent Russia from attacking again. Asked what guarantees he needs, Zelensky replied, “Everything.” Trump said the U.S. would be involved in some capacity, alluding to a NATO-like arrangement led by Europe (Wall Street Journal).

Zelensky came with a new attire and a new demeanor—relative to the acrimonious encounter on February 25 this year (Wall Street Journal). Financial Times: From the moment Donald Trump greeted Volodymyr Zelenskyy outside the West Wing on Monday afternoon, there seemed to be less personal tension between the men compared with their public spat in late February. Zelenskyy’s allies had feared another public showdown in the Oval Office — with consequences for Trump’s attitude to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Their fears were unfounded. The Ukrainian president had accepted Trump’s plea to wear a suit for the occasion instead of his usual military garb. The US president smiled and when a reporter asked what his message was to the people of Ukraine, he responded: “We love them.” Inside the Oval Office — scene of the bust-up almost six months ago — vice-president JD Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio were sitting in the same positions on the sofa next to the two leaders…. As well as changing attire, Zelenskyy also praised a letter that US first lady Melania Trump had sent to Putin about the fate of Ukrainian children, including those abducted by Russia. Zelenskyy handed a letter from his own wife to the first lady. “It’s not to you, [it’s] to your wife,” Zelenskyy told Trump, in a moment of levity. “I want it,” the US president said, with a grin (Financial Times).

I covered the White House for more than a decade, and never witnessed a meeting like this. pic.twitter.com/ZIIxanJor1

— John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) August 18, 2025

FOX News:

During the meeting, Trump and Zelenskyy were pictured viewing a map outlining the front lines of the war and the Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russia, about 20% of the country. Trump may have used the map to discuss with Zelenskyy which regions he could realistically part with in order to obtain peace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen amid negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 18, 2025.

After a bilateral meeting, the two leaders met with seven other European leaders. (REUTERS/Alexander Drago)

According to a source familiar with Zelenskyy’s visit planning, clarity on U.S. and European security guarantees could help the Ukrainian leader make the case domestically for any territorial concessions — a likely core element of talks with Russia. The question of which areas Ukraine could “let go” and which it must retain remains deeply sensitive in Kyiv, where public opinion has hardened after years of fighting and heavy civilian losses.