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All Eyes on DC: Trump Hosts Zelenskyy and EU Leaders on Ukraine’s Future
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Washington ahead of a high-stakes meeting with President Donald Trump, followed by a broader session with European leaders, Zelenskyy wrote on X on August 18.
According to the schedule published by Roll Call, the one-hour bilateral between Trump and Zelenskyy will begin at 1:15 p.m. EST.
Just under two hours later, at 3:15 p.m., Trump is expected to host European heads of state for multilateral talks on Ukraine.
I have already arrived in Washington, tomorrow I am meeting with President Trump. Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS for the invitation. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting. Not…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 18, 2025
Confirmed participants include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Finland, and the United Kingdom.
Zelenskyy said on X that Ukraine and its allies share “a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably,” stressing that any agreement must provide lasting security.
He cautioned against repeating past mistakes, pointing to the 1994 security guarantees under the Budapest Memorandum that failed to deter Russian aggression, as well as the 2014 loss of Crimea and parts of Donbas, which Moscow later used as a springboard for a full-scale invasion.
“Crimea should never have been given up,” Zelenskyy said, adding that just as Ukrainians held Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv after 2022, they will continue fighting for every part of their land and independence.
The President noted recent battlefield gains in the Donetsk and Sumy regions and expressed confidence that Ukraine can defend itself while securing international guarantees. He also underscored his gratitude toward Trump, the American people, and allied nations for their continued military and financial support, which he called “invaluable.”
“Russia must end this war, which it itself started,” Zelenskyy said. “I hope that our joint strength with America and with our European friends will force Russia into a real peace.”
Earlier, Zelenskyy met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, where the two leaders held talks.
During a joint press conference, Zelenskyy stated that Russian leader Vladimir Putin must halt attacks on civilians and stop hostilities on the frontline if any real negotiations are to begin. He noted that Moscow has presented “many demands,” but without clarity on their full scope, discussions could be prolonged.
“It is impossible to negotiate under the pressure of weapons. A cease-fire is necessary, followed by work on a final agreement. We will address this in Washington. Putin does not want to stop the killings, but he must do so,” Zelenskyy said.
