During Monday’s summit at the White House, Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s unwavering pursuit of peace, outlined weapon acquisition plans, and promised to keep territorial talks solely between Ukraine and Russia.
“Ukraine will never stop its efforts”
At the White‑House summit on 18 August, President Zelensky stressed that Ukraine will never halt its pursuit of peace, but will do so through close cooperation with its partners. He reiterated the country’s commitment to a peaceful resolution while engaging deeply with the international community.
Donald Trump announces preparations for a meeting with Zelensky and Putin
Former President Donald Trump said he had begun preparations for a meeting between Presidents Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. This was the main outcome of the Monday summit, which also involved European leaders. Trump noted that he had discussed the plan with Putin during a telephone call while negotiating with European leaders at the White House. Zelensky later said Russia had proposed a bilateral meeting followed by a trilateral meeting that would include the U.S. President. He highlighted readiness for any format of contact with Putin, underscoring that Ukraine will never stop its efforts to achieve peace.
Zelensky’s engagement after the White‑House summit
Zelensky described the summit as his “best meeting with President Donald Trump.” BBC reported that he wore a tailored suit, different from his usual style, and Trump complimented him. The White‑House reportedly asked whether Zelensky would don a suit. One of Trump’s advisors joked that Zelensky wearing a suit would be a “good sign of peace.”
Key points from the discussion
Zelensky referred to security guarantees as the “starting point for ending the war.” He confirmed that the talks covered plans to purchase U.S. weapons worth $90 billion and U.S. drones to boost domestic production. A formal agreement could be reached within the next ten days. Zelensky also had a lengthy conversation with Trump about a map in the Oval Office showing territories seized by Russia. He admitted he was “arguing over percentages on the map” because he knows them very well. He could not disclose the extent of occupied territory but reaffirmed that territorial matters would remain “between us and Putin.”
