Zelensky to Meet Trump in Washington, D.C. on August 18
Calls for Trilateral Summit With Putin Reiterated
Putin Reaffirms Opposition to Ukraine Joining NATO
European Leaders Urge Ceasefire Before Further Negotiations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on August 16 that he will visit the United States on August 18 (local time) to meet with President Donald Trump and discuss ending the war.
On June 25 (local time), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) and U.S. President Donald Trump met during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit held in The Hague, Netherlands. Photo by EPA
President Zelensky wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that, immediately after being briefed by President Trump on the outcome of the U.S.-Russia summit, "On Monday (the 18th), I will meet President Trump in Washington, D.C. to discuss every detail necessary to end the bloodshed and the war," adding, "Thank you for the invitation."
Back in February, President Zelensky visited the White House to sign a U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement, but returned home after being snubbed by President Trump.
He stated, "I support President Trump's proposal for a trilateral summit among Ukraine, the United States, and Russia," and once again called for a three-way summit that would include Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy advisor to the Kremlin (the Russian presidential office), said on state television on August 15 that a trilateral summit involving Ukraine was not discussed at the U.S.-Russia summit.
On his way back to the White House after meeting President Putin in Alaska, President Trump informed President Zelensky, leaders of various European countries, the President of the European Commission, and the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) of the summit results by phone.
President Zelensky explained that he spoke on the phone for a total of one hour and thirty minutes, and that he had a one-hour conversation with President Trump before other leaders joined the call.
According to Barak Ravid of Axios, during the call, President Trump said that President Putin does not want a ceasefire and prefers a comprehensive agreement to end the war, stating, "A quick peace settlement is better than a ceasefire."
European leaders argued that, since a U.S.-Russia summit had been scheduled, a ceasefire should be implemented first, and that remaining issues such as territorial disputes should be negotiated in due course.
However, at a joint press conference with President Trump, President Putin reaffirmed his position that "all root causes of the crisis must be eliminated," reiterating that Ukraine must abandon its bid to join NATO.
He also expressed his hope that neither Ukraine nor Europe would create any obstacles through behind-the-scenes conspiracies or provocative actions, and that there would be no attempts to hinder new progress.
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