On August 19, a high-profile meeting took place in Washington between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump, with key European leaders present. These talks bore historic significance for finding peace in Ukraine and shaping future security guarantees.
The Ukrainian delegation was headed by President Zelensky, the US-side by Trump, Besent, Vance, Rubio and Keloch, with Europe represented by Macron, Meloni, Starmer, Ursula von der Leyen, Rutte, Merz, and Stubb. The summit reaffirmed the pursuit of a just peace; for Ukraine, the key condition remains non-concession of its territorial integrity. Kyiv insists on the return of all occupied territories and demands security guarantees—military and political—from the US, EU, and NATO.
Options for the deployment of US/NATO troops in Ukraine were discussed, as was a “NATO-style guarantee system” that could offer protection similar to NATO’s Article 5, even without formal membership. European partners emphasized that a ceasefire is the first step to peace, followed by deeper negotiations. The US noted that the ultimate format for guarantees is still being developed by military experts and diplomats.
Trump held phone consultations with Putin and announced plans to prepare for a trilateral meeting between Zelensky, Putin, and Trump. Ukraine has announced that it will not agree to any territorial concessions for peace—notably, it will not withdraw troops from Donbas or agree to the autonomy of occupied territories. Kyiv insists on compensation for damages via frozen Russian assets, and any easing of sanctions is dependent on Russia’s compliance with a prospective agreement.
Concurrently, G7 nations are moving to toughen sanctions against Russia, and Ukraine has initiated extensive defense cooperation with the US, including orders for Patriot systems and expanding drone production. European leaders called for unity and expressed readiness to assume a share of security obligations. Trump’s new plan, as summarized, is for a Zelensky-Putin direct dialogue first, then a trilateral summit with US mediation.
In these historic negotiations, Kyiv reiterated: peace is only possible with respect for sovereignty, security guarantees, the inviolability of territory and clear accountability for Russian aggression.
