US President Donald Trump is set to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House on Monday for high-stakes talks as the U.S. president pushes for a possible deal to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. A host of NATO and European leaders are also now gathering in Washington to demonstrate united support for Kyiv.
The summit comes just days after Trump’s controversial meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, and six months after an explosive Oval Office encounter between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Vice President JD Vance. This new round of negotiations will test whether international pressure can shift the course of the war.
Military analysts say Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, with Putin demanding the rest of the Donetsk region in exchange for halting Moscow’s offensive. The area, roughly the size of Delaware, is vital for Ukraine’s agriculture, minerals, and industrial output.
Ahead of the White House meeting, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived, joined by the leaders of Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Finland. Their presence underscores the stakes of the talks, as Europe and NATO seek both to bolster Ukraine and to prevent a wider destabilization of the continent.
Zelenskyy, posting from Washington, condemned Russia’s overnight strikes on Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Odesa, accusing Moscow of deliberately targeting civilians, including children. He stressed that the discussions with Trump and allied leaders would center on achieving “dignified peace and true security.”
Vice President JD Vance, who clashed with Zelenskyy in a heated White House meeting six months ago, is expected to attend today’s session as well.
With Ukraine’s allies rallying in Washington, the question now is whether the combined weight of NATO, the EU, and U.S. leadership can forge a breakthrough—or if Moscow’s battlefield momentum will dictate the next phase of the war
