Peace on the table at White House talks

A day of high-stakes diplomacy about the Ukraine conflict at the White House on Monday produced the clearest signal yet that the leaders of the warring countries will meet face-to-face, with the United States and European leaders maneuvering over what comes next.

The day began with a bilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, followed by broader talks with European leaders.

More than 100 journalists swarmed the stakeout location at the White House in the morning to witness Trump's greeting of Zelensky scheduled for 1 pm, with a bitter encounter of the two at the Oval Office in February still fresh in their memory.

Unlike in February's meeting, Zelensky was accompanied this time by a delegation of seven European leaders, who, like him, were left out of Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday.

They include NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Putin was not at the White House, but Trump called him during a break in the day's meeting, discussing arrangements for a Zelensky-Putin summit "at a location to be determined".

"After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years," Trump posted on Truth Social.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov separately confirmed that Trump and Putin discussed "raising the level" of direct Russia-Ukraine talks.

Germany's Merz told reporters the US and Russian presidents agreed in the calls that the meeting would be held "within the next two weeks".

European leaders seemed to be pressing their case for a central role.

"I would like to see a ceasefire from the next meeting, which should be a trilateral meeting," said Merz.

Macron went further, floating a quadrilateral format, with the European side joining in: "When we speak about security guarantees, we speak about the whole security of the European continent."

Yet, while leaders coalesced around the principle of talks, divisions surfaced on the path leading there.

Trump suggested peace negotiations could proceed without a ceasefire, saying, "I wish they could stop, I'd like them to stop. But strategically that could be a disadvantage for one side or the other."

He argued that he has solved many conflicts without first reaching a ceasefire.

"I don't think you need a ceasefire. You know, if you look at the six deals that I settled this year, they were all at war," Trump said, according to Fox News. "I didn't do any ceasefires. And I know that it might be good to have, but I can also understand strategically why, you know, one country or the other wouldn't want it."

European leaders disagreed. "I can't imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire," Merz countered.

Macron echoed that sentiment, voicing support for a ceasefire as a prerequisite to any direct talks with Russia.

Zelensky himself struck a delicate balance. He signaled openness to a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin, acknowledging that "sensitive things, territory and etc." would be discussed at the leaders' level at a trilateral meeting.

At the same time, he stressed Ukraine's need for binding commitments. "This is very important, that the United States gives such a strong signal and is ready for security guarantees," he said.

Washington's guarantees remain deliberately vague. On Truth Social, Trump endorsed a "NATO-like" arrangement, where European countries provide guarantees with US coordination.

"They are a first line of defense because they're there, but we'll help them out," he said.

Stubb, Finland's president, suggested that details of security guarantees could be ironed out within the next week or so.

But Moscow rejected the idea of a possible NATO peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Speaking on Monday before the White House meetings took place, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that such a scenario could see further escalation and "unpredictable consequences".

The formal proceedings played out against a strikingly different backdrop from Zelensky's last Oval Office visit nearly half a year ago, which ended in criticism over what the US side said about his lack of gratitude.

This time, the Ukrainian leader arrived in a crisp black suit and collared shirt — a rare departure from his wartime khaki.

The choice did not go unnoticed. "I can't believe it, I love it!" Trump exclaimed.

Zelensky opened his talk with eight separate expressions of thanks — to Trump, to the US first lady, to the European leaders assembled. "Thank you very much for your efforts, personal efforts to stop killings and stop this war. Thank you," he said.

Agencies contributed to the story.