Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined European leaders in Washington for high-level talks with US President Donald Trump on ending the war in Ukraine. Both leaders described the discussions as a breakthrough, with Zelensky calling them the “best” talks so far and Trump describing them as “very good.”
Following the meetings, Trump placed a call to Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the possibility of direct talks between Zelensky and Putin. He also confirmed that discussions with European leaders had touched on security guarantees for Ukraine, which he said could be co-ordinated by the US.
While the details remain unclear, security experts note that guarantees could range from intelligence sharing to the presence of foreign troops on Ukrainian soil. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the BBC that negotiations on such guarantees would continue on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Russia pressed on with its military campaign, with overnight strikes causing power cuts in several regions. This reality underlines Zelensky’s push for a ceasefire before any peace deal, a position he has repeatedly called a “red line.”
For many Ukrainians living under daily bombardment, the talks offered hope that momentum is shifting towards peace.
Observers say there is cautious optimism that international backing will help bring greater focus to the human cost of the war and push the conflict closer to resolution.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Follow us on:
