Donald Trump, the President of the United States, is not one to shy away from controversy. Just hours after this high–level meeting convened, talks between Ukrainian and Russian President–Equals, Vladimir Putin, crushed hopes for a peaceful ceasefire. In their July 2019 meeting, Trump pressured Zelenskyy to settle the five-year-old war and made Kremlin-preferred talking points on Crimea and NATO demands.
Such a gathering could not come at a more opportune time as tensions severe across Eastern Europe. Experts say it’s far from a “quick fix” for the intense and deadly ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This new wave of diplomatic engagement comes at an interesting moment for Trump—in light of his legal woes. A separate decision from a New York state appeals court last week struck down the majority of a sizeable civil business fraud penalty. This new penalty—over $500 million—had already been ordered against Trump and the other defendants.
The court ruled to reverse the monetary fine, now ballooned due to compounded interest. Yet the non-monetary penalties ordered against Trump personally, and the Trump Organization still stand. This ruling gives Trump and his legal team sufficient cause to further appeal the decision handed down on Thursday.
Peter Moulton, a legal expert involved in the case, commented on the court’s ruling, stating, “Indeed, the calculation of the disgorgement in this case was far from a reasonable approximation.” The appeals court overturned the original financial penalties as excessive. They claimed that these penalties constitute cruel and unusual punishment, which violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Trump’s son, Eric Trump, responded to the court’s decision through social media, declaring it a “Total victory in the sham NY Attorney General case!!! After 5 years of hell, justice prevailed!” His comment is emblematic of the frustration that many in Trump’s camp have felt about the extended legal fights they have endured.
The first meeting Trump had on his state visit was with Zelenskyy. On August 8, 2025, he similarly flanked Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev at the White House. Just yesterday, a top White House envoy suggested that Russia has accepted “Article 5-like” security guarantees for Ukraine. This last development might have something to do with Trump’s phone calls with Moscow and Kyiv about security and peace in the region.
The appeals court ruling will be a small comfort to Trump and his organization. There are some important hurdles. Experts caution that the challenges that made Ukraine complicated are no less daunting today. The conversations between Trump, Zelenskyy & Putin are a compelling display of the intricacies of international diplomacy. These conversations are indicative of a larger domestic legal climate that is shaping, and indeed troubling, Trump’s presidency.