President Donald Trump pledged U.S. security support for Ukraine in a rare summit at the White House on Monday, raising hopes for a renewed diplomatic track to end Russia’s ongoing offensive, despite significant uncertainty surrounding the nature and scope of the American guarantee.
The meeting, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and top European leaders, followed Trump’s dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week, further fueling speculation of a potential breakthrough to a conflict now stretching into its fourth year.
The U.S. will help guarantee Ukraine’s security, and there is going to be a lot of support, Trump said, emphasizing the central role of European allies as Kyiv’s first line of defense.
Both Trump and Zelenskiy hailed the session as a turning point that would see security commitments “formalized on paper” within ten days. Zelenskiy also disclosed plans for Ukraine to purchase up to $90 billion in U.S. weaponry.
Talks took place under markedly improved diplomatic conditions, a notable shift from strained White House meetings earlier this year. Still, prospects for an immediate end to hostilities remain remote. The Kremlin swiftly dismissed the idea of NATO troops helping enforce any ceasefire, casting doubt on Western security guarantees.
As the summit concluded, Trump revealed active efforts to arrange a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy, with a tri-leader session to follow. According to European sources, Trump initiated this after consulting with Putin, who suggested the sequencing. Preparatory talks could occur in Hungary within two weeks, although Moscow has yet to confirm its participation.
European heads of government, prominent at the White House gathering, pressed Trump to condition any progress on an immediate halt to fighting—an approach France and Germany continue to advocate. Trump, after his recent meeting with Putin, shifted to favor a wider peace package that could allow negotiations to run parallel to ongoing military actions.