Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office marked a notable change in tone compared with their tense encounter earlier this year.
From the outset, the atmosphere appeared lighter. Zelenskyy, who had been urged to set aside his usual military attire, arrived in a dark suit. Trump welcomed him warmly, joking with reporters and telling the Ukrainian people, “We love them.” The two leaders even shared a laugh with a conservative U.S. reporter over Zelenskyy’s new look.
Inside the Oval Office, Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat in on the talks, but this time the sharp exchanges seen in February were absent. Then, Vance had openly criticized Zelenskyy for not showing enough gratitude for U.S. support. On this occasion, only Trump and Zelenskyy spoke.
Shifting U.S. Position
The meeting came just days after Trump hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, where he aligned himself with Moscow’s stance on the war. Trump dropped his call for an immediate ceasefire — long demanded by Kyiv and European capitals — and suggested Ukraine might need to give up territory to achieve peace, an idea firmly rejected by Kyiv.
Despite this, Trump signaled that the U.S. could support certain security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a settlement, provided that European allies shouldered most of the responsibility. On Truth Social, he stressed that NATO membership for Ukraine was off the table but reiterated his view that Europe must take the lead in defending the continent.
“We will give [Ukraine] very good protection, very good security,” Trump said. “They are the first line of defence because they’re there, they’re Europe. But we’re going to help them out also. We’ll be involved.”
Symbolic Gestures and Personal Touches
Beyond the policy debates, the meeting featured symbolic gestures. Zelenskyy praised a letter from First Lady Melania Trump to Putin regarding Ukrainian children taken to Russia and presented a letter from his own wife addressed to the First Lady. Trump playfully asked to keep it himself.
The two presidents also stood over a large map of Ukraine displaying Russian-occupied territories. Zelenskyy thanked Trump for it, joking that he wanted to take it home. Trump promised he would receive one.
International Support
The meeting ended with a lunch joined by key European leaders — including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte — who flew to Washington to signal their backing for Ukraine. This stood in stark contrast to six months earlier, when Zelenskyy had abruptly cut short his White House visit after a clash with Trump.
Trump emphasized that these leaders were “friends of mine and friends of yours,” all eager to see peace in Europe. Zelenskyy, for his part, struck an optimistic note, describing the talks as “very good” and hinting that even better discussions could follow.
Uncertain Path Ahead
Despite the improved atmosphere, fundamental questions remain unresolved. Trump has floated the idea of a future trilateral summit involving himself, Zelenskyy, and Putin — though he said Ukraine and Russia would first have to meet directly, a prospect fraught with difficulty.
For now, the Oval Office encounter highlighted a temporary thaw between Trump and Zelenskyy. Whether it translates into a breakthrough for Ukraine, or Europe’s broader security, remains to be seen.
