On August 18, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made his first visit to Washington D.C. for an official White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. The meeting aimed to address ongoing security concerns for Ukraine amidst its protracted conflict with Russia. This follow-up meeting comes on the heels of a contentious confrontation in February. That now infamous meeting led to an absolutely epic shouting match that left Zelenskyy feeling thoroughly publicly humiliated.
During the recent discussions, Trump asserted that European countries would provide security guarantees for Ukraine in “coordination with the U.S.” This pledge seems to dovetail with Zelenskyy’s ongoing attempts to broker a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia that would result in a ceasefire. It is still unclear how far the Kremlin would be prepared to go in direct negotiations.
Zelenskyy outlined a comprehensive package of security guarantees that would include a significant purchase of American weapons, with financing reportedly supported by European nations. He billed this move as a “significant step forward” for Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
Their first conversation was about military assistance. Next, they discussed a possible trilateral meeting involving Zelenskyy, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Trump. This meeting is intended to improve communication between parties and possibly open the door to peace talks. Yet, during our discussions, Zelenskyy was very concerned about Europe’s ability to move strongly and effectively in these negotiations. European leaders doubt it, he noted, because they certainly talk like they’re skeptical, like French President Emanuel Macron. They think that a ceasefire first should be possible before negotiating a peace agreement.
Zelenskyy appears to be looking for guarantees from other countries, the British, French, German and Turkish troops, to smooth operations inside of Ukraine. He underscored the need for a strong Ukrainian military. This army must be a force of several hundred thousand soldiers equipped with the best in defense systems.
“The first security guarantee we are working on — and it is the most important — is a strong Ukrainian army,” – Emmanuel Macron
European leaders’ views are vastly different on the conflict and how it could be resolved. Some doubters accept that Ukraine will lose territory in the search for a peace deal. This misperception underscores Europe’s inability to fight hard and smart.
“What came out of the meeting yesterday was that Europe was asking the U.S. yesterday to continue its assistance, to ask for a ceasefire, to assist any stationing of troops,” – [CNBC Reporter]
Gabrielius Landsbergis emphasized that Ukraine does not need to seek permission from Russia to station troops on its territory.
Despite these ongoing pushes, uncertainties continue to remain as to what exactly the security guarantees will look like. According to analyst Jaroslava Barbieri, “the Kremlin’s maximalist demands on Ukraine have not changed,” contributing to the complexities surrounding troop deployments and contributions from various nations.
Through it all, Zelenskyy’s commitment to achieving true, lasting peace remains unshakable. He argues that Europe is still coming to terms with its capacity to utilize influence in negotiations.
“Peace in Ukraine is also our concern,” – [NBC News, translating comments from French broadcaster TF1-LCI]