Following a high-profile meeting at the White House, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that he is ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, either in a one-on-one or a trilateral format that includes U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking outside the White House, Zelenskyy described his talks with Trump as “productive” and “the best so far.” He said he used battlefield maps to show which territories are under Ukrainian control and emphasized the importance of securing long-term security guarantees.
He added that after their meeting, Trump immediately reached out to Russian officials to discuss potential diplomatic next steps. “Our team did a lot,” Zelenskyy said, also thanking the European leaders who participated in the Washington discussions.
Russia Signals Willingness to Engage
According to Zelenskyy, Moscow has shown readiness to explore direct talks with Kyiv but is also open to a trilateral meeting involving the U.S. “We are ready for a bilateral with Putin,” Zelenskyy stated, underlining that Ukraine will continue to pursue peace despite the war now lasting over two years.
He further stressed that securing reliable international guarantees would be the “starting point for ending the war.” The U.S., along with its European allies, is expected to be a key player in defining these guarantees.
No Date Set for Future Summit
While Zelenskyy welcomed the progress, he confirmed that no date has yet been agreed upon for any bilateral or trilateral summit. “Ukraine will never stop on the way to peace,” he told reporters, switching briefly to English.
The Ukrainian president concluded his remarks with a promise that Kyiv would continue to work with its allies and remain open to negotiations that could eventually bring the conflict to a close.
