Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky returned to the White House on Monday for a crucial meeting with US President Donald Trump, in a bid to push peace efforts and secure stronger backing in the war against Russia.
The talks drew a host of European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen and Giorgia Meloni, who rushed to Washington just days after Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska failed to produce a ceasefire.
In a marked contrast to his frosty Oval Office encounter in February, Zelensky adopted a charm offensive this time. Dressed in a dark suit instead of his trademark military gear, he thanked his American hosts repeatedly and even joked with reporters about his outfit. “It’s the same suit,” he quipped, drawing laughter from Trump and others in the room.
The Ukrainian leader also delivered a personal letter from his wife, First Lady Olena Zelenska, to Melania Trump, adding a softer personal touch to the proceedings.
When asked what Ukraine needed to feel secure, Zelensky leaned forward and gave a blunt answer: “Everything.” He stressed weapons, intelligence, training, and manpower as vital.
Trump responded with his strongest language yet on the issue, promising Ukraine “good protection” while underscoring that Europe must remain the “first line of defence.”
Although the US president stopped short of committing to specifics, he left the door open to deeper involvement, even hinting at possible security guarantees as part of any peace deal with Russia.
Trump also floated the idea of hosting a three-way summit with Zelensky and Putin, calling it a matter of “when, not if.”
While the Kremlin has so far resisted such a meeting, Zelensky has long sought it as a test of Russia’s seriousness about peace.
European leaders, meanwhile, pressed Trump behind closed doors to ensure that any guarantees go beyond symbolic gestures.
For now, Zelensky’s mix of diplomacy, humor and gratitude has helped repair strained ties with Washington.
But as the war drags on, Kyiv’s fate may depend less on charm and more on whether Trump is willing to turn promises into firm commitments.
